black pug puppies for sale in pa

black pug puppies for sale in pa - Accidents are part of the process, but if you follow these basic house training guidelines, you can get the newest member of your family on the right track. To potty train your puppy, establish a routine Puppies do best on a regular schedule. The schedule teaches them that there are times to eat, times to play and times to do their business. Typically, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is 2 months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy on a leash to that spot. While your puppy is relieving themselves, use a specific word or phrase that you can eventually use before they go to remind them what to do. Take them out for a longer walk or some playtime only after they have eliminated. Reward your puppy every time they eliminate outdoors. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for going outdoors is the only way to teach what's expected of them. Put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule. What goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out of a puppy on a schedule. Depending on their age, puppies may need to be fed two or three times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely that they'll eliminate at consistent times as well, making house training easier for both of you. Pick up your puppy's water dish about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that they'll need to relieve themselves during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don't make a big deal of it; otherwise, they will think it is time to play and won't want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don't talk to or play with your puppy, take them out to the spot where they relieve themselves and then return them to bed. Top 10 pet tips Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about caring for your pet, including training techniques and answers to frequently asked questions. Tether your puppy to you or a nearby piece of furniture with a six-foot leash if you are not actively training or playing. Watch for signs that your puppy needs to go out. Some signs are obvious, such as barking or scratching at the door, squatting, restlessness, sniffing around or circling. When you see these signs, immediately grab the leash and take them outside to their bathroom spot. If they eliminate, praise them and reward with a treat. Keep your puppy on leash in the yard. During the house training process, your yard should be treated like any other room in your house. Give your puppy some freedom in the house and yard only after they become reliably house trained. When you can't supervise, confine When you're unable to watch your puppy at all times, restrict them to an area small enough that they won't want to eliminate there. Browse Dog Crates on Amazon. You can use a portion of a bathroom or laundry room blocked off with baby gates. Or you may want to crate train your puppy. Be sure to learn how to use a crate humanely as a method of confinement. If your puppy has spent several hours in confinement, you'll need to take them directly to their bathroom spot as soon as you return. Mistakes happen Expect your puppy to have a few accidents in the house—it's a normal part of house training. Here's what to do when that happens: Without a lot of drama, immediately take them to their outside bathroom spot. Praise your pup and give a treat if they finish there. Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking them to the spot and scolding them or any other punishment will only make them afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Punishment will do more harm than good. Clean the soiled area thoroughly. Puppies are highly motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or feces. It's extremely important that you use these supervision and confinement procedures to minimize the number of accidents. Make plans for when you're away If you have to be away from home more than four or five hours a day, this may not be the best time for you to get a puppy. Instead, you may want to consider an older house-trained dog who can wait for your return. If you already have a puppy and must be away for long periods of time, you may need to: Arrange for someone, such as a responsible neighbor or a professional pet sitter, to take them for bathroom breaks. Alternatively, train them to eliminate in a specific place indoors. Be aware, however, that doing this can prolong the process of house training. Teaching your puppy to eliminate on newspaper may create a life-long surface preference, meaning that even as an adult they may eliminate on any newspaper lying around the living room. If you plan to paper-train, confine them to an area with enough room for a sleeping space, a playing space and a separate place to eliminate. In the designated elimination area, use either pet pee pads, newspapers cover the area with several layers of newspaper or a sod box. To make a sod box, place sod in a container such as a child's small, plastic swimming pool. You can also find dog litter products at a pet supply store. If you have to clean up an accident outside the designated elimination area, put the soiled rags or paper towels inside that area afterward to help your puppy recognize the scented area as the place where they are supposed to eliminate. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. You probably already know that learning how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy can be a stressful time. But… once you know these easy steps, great things happen! Knowing how to potty train your German Shepherd is vital to having a happy, comfortable life with them. Use this training consistently to have the most effect. A proactive approach works best. Which means you should… focus on preventing accidents, instead of waiting on them to happen! Follow a strict feeding and bathroom schedule to see the best results. Basically, you teach your German Shepherd puppy the right potty skills… until it becomes a habit humanesociety. The key to quick success is taking your pup out every 2 to 3 hours and never giving the opportunity for them to have an accident inside. This means at least 8 to 10 trips outside every single day! In their welcoming and safe crate either resting, eating their meals, or enjoying a play toy. In an exercise pen or playpen with a strict potty area. Under your direct, undivided attention. This means you are always watching your pup. All it takes is for you to check your phone for a few seconds for your pup to have a toileting accident! You can either use a crate to speed up their potty training or provide them an area indoors to eliminate. I prefer the crate method. Housebreaking with the use of a crate speeds up your success rate incredibly! But you want to use the crate positively so they learn to love their little den. Make their crate an enjoyable and inviting place to go. How to show your pup how to love their crate: Never force your pup into their crate! Take your time with crate introduction and allow them to explore under their own will. Serve your pup at least one meal a day inside their crate. Use a Kong with their meal stuffed inside and mixed with a small spoonful of unsweetened Greek yogurt or peanut butter to entice them to stay and work on the Kong inside the crate. Offer treats when they willingly go inside to rest or explore their crate. Use a verbal cue when you want your pup to go into the crate. You can learn all the benefits of teaching your dog to use their crate in this easy post on crate training your German Shepherd successfully. Check it out to get the complete facts, tips, and step-by-step instructions to perfect crate training today. Use Puppy Pads You can use puppy pads if you need to… or skip to step 4 to learn potty training without pads. Not going to use puppy pads? You can skip to step 4. But… if you prefer to use puppy pads, then you need an area where you always take your dog when they need to go to the bathroom. Preferably place their pads near the door that you eventually want them to use to go outside. Place more pads down than you think you need at first. This is because puppies have poor aim and also may find a spot they prefer other than the one you pick. After a couple of weeks, you may remove the extra pads until there are only two puppy pads on the floor in the primary area they prefer to go. Keep the food and water area away from the puppy pads in another place. Using Puppy Pads Successfully Change your puppy pads as they become soiled. But a lightly soiled pad is attractive to your pup in the beginning stages of training and helps them learn the right area to potty indoors at first. Once they are reliably using the correct spot, you need not continue to use this trick and can throw away the pads as they become too soiled. Training Them to Go Outside After Using Pads Indoors If you set up your pads near the door you use to take them outside to their elimination area, then you can transition them to go outside more easily. So, place or move your puppy pads closer to the door from their original spot to begin the transition to the outdoors. When your pads are close to the door, watch them for their elimination signs and get them to the outside as swiftly as you can. While I generally use a crate to house train my German Shepherd puppy I also totally understand that you might prefer to learn how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy using a puppy pad for any number of reasons. Teach Them a Potty Routine Every day, follow the same routine and schedule to keep your puppy from having accidents inside your house. Teaching your dog to eliminate outside means that you must have a strict schedule. Watch for signs that your pup needs to go potty so you can avoid indoor accidents. Morning Potty Routine First thing in the morning when you let your pup out of their crate or from their sleeping area take them to their potty spot. If in doubt, carry them outside yourself. If you will not leash your pup when you take them out in the morning, then run ahead of them to lead them outside quickly. If you have stairs, carry your pup since rushing downstairs on a full bladder is never a good idea. Outside Potty Routine Stay with your pup until they do their business. You can place your pup in a small confined area to go potty or keep them leashed to you. Stand quietly until they potty. Then, praise them and offer a tasty treat. This can bore you at first, but potty training a German Shepherd puppy becomes easier every day. After 10 to 15 minutes, take them out of their crate and repeat the above process. Learning how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy takes repetition and patience. How do you know when to take your GSD puppy outside to potty? Take them out after a nap. They need to relieve themselves after sleeping or napping in their crates. Take them out after a play session. Take them out after they drink a large amount of water. Take them out first thing in the morning and the last thing before you place them in their crate or go to bed. Take your dog out when their body language says they are searching for a potty spot! You should take out your German Shepherd puppy every 2 hours for an 8-week-old pup. Add an hour for each month your pup is old. So, a week-old dog needs to go out every 3 hours. And a week-old German Shepherd needs to go outside to relieve herself every 4 hours. Puppy Age How often do you take them outside to potty? Most dogs do not have full bladder control until they are six months old. This means that even if your puppy does learn to hold it, accidents may still happen if it is left inside too long. Not potty training early can extend the process and make things harder. As the puppy grows, the mess and smells will increase. It is also harder to break an existing habit than prevent one from starting in the first place. How long on average does it take to potty train a puppy? If everything goes according to plan, your German Shepherd can be potty trained within five days. However, that does not mean your pup will be able to be locked indoors for eight hours while you go to work and not make a mess. Therefore, a two-month-old puppy needs to go out every two hours. A three-month-old can hold for three, and so on. German Shepherds also often have a high play drive and might completely forget that they need to potty when they want to play instead. There are few things more frustrating than playing outside with your puppy for an hour, only to have them calm down enough to relieve themselves the moment they come indoors. Have a complimentary diet An upset stomach is one of the most common setbacks in housetraining. In particular, puppies are vulnerable to garbage gut because they tend to eat anything smelly or exciting. This is another reason to make use of a crate. Excellent digestive health is not only good for your puppy, but it makes it much easier to stick to your routine. Use a specific door By now, you might be noticing a theme of consistency and routine emerging. Taking your puppy out through the same door helps condition and imprint the housetraining process on your dog and will also serve you later when your dog learns to always ask to go outside at the same door. Leash and lead The leash or lead is a further way of conditioning your puppy. The lead ensures that you can keep them close and make sure they always go to the specific spotty to potty. Do some research on the best collar for German Shephards , as there are some breed specific requirements. Then give a treat or some playtime to reward the correct behavior. Guide your dog back inside A potty run needs to be conditioned as a potty run. While praise, playtime, and treats should be used to make it a positive experience, your pup must learn to stay focused on the task at hand. Creating a negative experience for your dog is more likely to cause sneaky behavior such as peeing and pooping secretly out of fear that you will reprimand them if caught. Make sure you check on your puppy at least twice throughout the night Set an alarm clock and check if your puppy is awake and restless at least twice a night. This is your cue to take the pup outside. If the crate is near your bed and you are a light sleeper, you will likely wake when you hear rustling or whimpering. Stick to a routine A rigid routine is the quickest and smoothest route to a house-trained puppy. Be sure to take the puppy outside as soon as it wakes up in the morning, as well as after a nap, after playtime, and after meals. Until they are at least twelve weeks old, they should be taken out a minimum every two hours during the day. Positive Reinforcement As with all dog training, positive reinforcement works best. Make sure to praise and reward within three seconds of your puppy going potty to make a positive association. While your German Shepherd is learning that the entire house is out of bounds for elimination, the crate is a useful tool to avoid accidents. Once this has been achieved, you can gradually allow your puppy more free rein indoors. Pee Pads are not helpful. Puppies Puppy accidents are inevitable and can also be the most frustrating part of welcoming a new dog into your household. However, with a little bit of patience and the commitment to establishing a routine, you should get your GSD puppy potty trained in no time. This article will dive into how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy as well as give you step-by-step instructions and tips for success. German Shepherds become aware of their ability to control their bodily functions at around 3 weeks old. However, it is best to start potty training as soon as you bring your puppy home, usually, this is around 8 weeks of age. So, a 2-month old can hold their pee for about 2 hours. To avoid accidents, take them for potty breaks once every hour. No, not all adult German Shepherds are potty trained. Nevertheless, the general process of training an adult is pretty much the same as potty training a puppy. The key is in setting your rules and establishing a routine from the beginning. Ideally, choose a relatively quiet place. German Shepherds, like many other dog breeds, are creatures of habit. Having a designated potty area and using it consistently is key to making this process work smoothly. When dogs eliminate, their urine and feces leave behind a unique scent. Smelling it will signal to their brains that it is, indeed, time to go potty. Step 2: Establish a schedule Just like having a consistent potty area, sticking to a regular schedule is essential. Take very young puppies to their designated potty area every hour. As they age and as they become familiar with the routine, you can lengthen the time between their potty breaks. Start by choosing a command and sticking with it. When your pup gets to their potty spot, say your chosen command. Then say your command again and praise your pup as soon as your pup has successfully eliminated. You can usually tell this by their body language. Keep doing that until you can just give the command and your pup knows to squat and poop. Step 4: Reinforce positive potty behavior Whenever your GSD pup potties successfully, give them a good time! Reward them especially when they potty on command. Make sure you give them lots of praises and maybe a good head scratch. Depending on what motivates them, reward them with food or play. Step 5: Give it time and patience Following these steps will give you the best chance of success, but expect it to take some time. Top Tips for Potty Training Success German Shepherds are easy to train , so by following the proper potty training steps, you should get your GSD pup housebroken in no time. Nevertheless, here are some tips that will set you up for success and allow you to get over this tedious phase much more quickly: Tip 1: Make crate training a priority Crate training offers plenty of critical benefits, especially to puppies. Apart from providing a private space where they can feel safe, the right crate can be an excellent housebreaking tool. Tip 2: Establish a routine German Shepherds tend to thrive on a daily routine, so try your best to make every day the same for them. It will also help you more accurately predict when they need to go potty. Try to limit feeding times to three times a day for puppies younger than 6 months. German Shepherds that are at least 6 months old can eat once in the morning and then again in the evening. Tip 4: Withhold water at night Dogs should always have access to clean drinking water, but free access to a water bowl will make potty training more difficult. Once housebroken, your dog can have free access to water. When you take your dog out to potty, try to keep yourself relaxed and only talk when giving the potty command. This will also make your post-potty reward extra special. Disciplining your puppy for a potty accident is likely to do more harm. It will lead to negative potty behavior like being afraid to eliminate in your presence as well as feeling anxiety over having to pee or poop. Just clean it up and hope you can both do better next time. If your dog is having accidents too regularly, you likely need to take your dog out more frequently to prevent it. This is also the best way to maintain proper hygiene and good health. Tip 8: Listen and observe Dogs have their own way of communicating and will be especially communicative when they need to go potty. Some dogs might whine while others paw at the door. You just need to establish a routine and give them time to develop full control over their bladder and bowels. As long as you are committed to following your protocol, you should be able to enjoy a fully housebroken dog soon enough.

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black pug puppies for sale in pa - Six possible 0 Comments Owning a dog can be a stressful experience when they are unwell. When should you be concerned and when do you need to take them to a vet? With certain issues, can you treat your dog at home? This article is aimed at people who own French Bulldogs and have noticed a problem with their eyes. There are several causes of red or bloodshot eyes in French Bulldogs, with cherry eye being a common one. Cherry eye is caused by an injury or infection to the clear membrane of the eye known as the third eyelid which results in a red, bloodshot appearance. Red eyes in French bulldogs are not always a symptom of cherry eye. Bloodshot eyes can result from other eye conditions such as entropion, dry eye, and ectopic cilia. Some issues are caused by eye infections and allergies, which are easier to treat. To be safe, visit your vet for a professional diagnosis. So, how do you know if your Frenchie has cherry eye? Look for the below symptoms: Red, bloodshot eyes Either too much tear production or not enough. Obvious problems with her sight. Obvious signs of irritation, such as trying to paw the problem-area, causing further problems. Swelling around the eyes. How serious is cherry eye and what should you do? She will instinctively try and claw at the area, naturally thinking that something needs to be got out. However, this can lead to more serious problems, such as corneal ulcers. So, as you can perhaps gather from the above, you need to get it sorted as quickly as possible to prevent further problems and to make her feel better! Get her to your vet. There are a few things your vet can and might recommend at this point: Removal of the gland surgically. Suture the gland back into position. Antibiotics which will most likely be prescribed with the above also as well as massage techniques. There are positives and negatives with all three of these options, for instance , if you have the gland removed totally but this can cause other problems related to the removal. In summary, there are two things you need to do with cherry eye: Identify that your dog has this condition. Visit your vet. As with any medical condition, the sooner the better. Entropion This is when an eyelid well, actually the edges of the eyelid rolls inwards and is actually quite common, not only to the French Bulldog but to many that have these adorable wrinkled facial folds. The discomfort comes due to the associated eyelashes making contact with the cornea, which can create an ulcer. In the more severe cases, the damage caused to the cornea due to this problem can , unfortunately, lead to vision impairment or total blindness. Tears start falling, you wash it, you rub it and eventually, it just comes out — the relief! Entropion is usually something that happens to her typically at a young age but can happen at any point in her life. But what are the symptoms of this, apart from the obvious signs of discomfort from her? Teary eyes, which may be red or bloodshot this could be a sign of an ulcer. Signs of anxiety or depression. To resolve this condition, your vet will need to perform a surgical procedure that will remove a bit of the skin from underneath the eyelid. What should you do about Entropion? If you notice red tears, which may be a sign an ulcer is developing, then this should be regarded as an emergency and you should contact your vet straight away. If your dog is young, there is a chance that the procedure will be delayed by your vet. Your vet will want to avoid the risks associated with anesthesia in younger puppies. If this is the case, they may choose to put a temporary suture in place until a later point. As far as preventative actions, keeping her face nice and clean and dry by using pet wipes. As this is not something you will be able to fix at home, a visit to your vet will need to be arranged as soon as possible to ensure your Frenchie gets treated in a timely fashion. This is to prevent pawing which in-turn can cause a lot more damage. This condition should not be ignored as it can cause other problems such as: Scarring Inflammation of the corneal Ulcers Note that this condition can occur after the resolution of another eye problem. For instance, if a dog has had cherry eye, the gland may that produces tears may have been replaced. It may also be the result of an eye infection or an allergy. It is actually quite common with Frenchies and other types of bulldog and will typically be seen more often in an adult rather than a puppy. What should you do about dry eye? Consult your vet , of course, they will most likely clean her eyes up and use some medication alongside this as well as providing you with instruction as to how to continue with this maintenance at home. Your vet may also check for an ulcer by using a fluorescein staining of her cornea, which can then be examined under ultraviolet light. One last thing about this. I often see dogs with their head outside of the car window. These are readily available, for instance on Amazon. Ectopic Cilia Eyelash Problems This is a problem related to eyelashes that grow from the middle eyelid typically and rub against the cornea. This rubbing action can actually cause excruciating pain for the dog imagine a hair being stuck in your eye and not being able to do anything about it and needs to be addressed quickly. How can you spot that your dog has this? Any or all of these symptoms may be apparent: Obvious eye discomfort. You notice the dog trying to paw at the problematic eye. A change in. When your French eyes are noticeably red or irritated, it may be a symptom of something as mild as an itch, mild allergies, or as severe as an eye condition. Bloodshot eyes are among the first symptoms of irritation. The eye is an organ that continually adapts to light stimuli and focuses on objects of interest. Their third eyelid can expand to shield their eyeball against cuts and scratches or in response to infection. Environmental pollutants can cause inflammation, and disease can impair or weaken various parts of your Frenchies eye. Certain breeds of dogs are much more susceptible to eye problems than the others, such as: Dogs that have long hair over their heads, like Maltese and Poodles. Brachycephalic or flat-faced dogs such as bulldogs , Shih Tzus, and French Bulldogs. Elderly dogs or ones with current health issues, including diabetes or high blood pressure french bulldog eye allergies What Causes Your French Bulldog To Have Red Eyes? Among the most likely reasons for bloodshot and irritated eyes in your Frenchie include the following: Allergies Eye allergies can cause your Frenchies eyes to become painful, swollen, and red. Many factors can cause such an allergic response. Typically, if the source of the problem is removed, the issue should fix itself without difficulty, but occasionally a ride to the vet is required for your Frenchies allergy treatment. Eye allergies are also connected to close exposure to allergens that your French Bulldog is exposed to throughout your household. Examples are mould, dust mites, or pollen. It could also be triggered by certain food or other additives. Vets can perform both skin and blood examinations. Findings can help determine the best ways to minimize allergen exposure in your home. Many medicines, as well as natural remedies, can also make your Frenchie recover. When you have a good idea of what is causing your Frenchies eyes to go red due to allergies, then take the following steps: Replace everything in your house, including the problem item. When you believe your Frenchie has been exposed to allergens like dust, dander, feathers, or spores, seek to remove as many sources as possible. When necessary, clean the carpets and clean every soft piece of furniture that can hold onto all these invisible irritants. Relatively benign allergens can usually be managed quite successfully. For example, if your french suffers from pollen, you can search online for pollen counts every day for your area. Then only take your Frenchie for a walk when the counts become low. Under extreme situations, it might be important to keep your Frenchie in a different, protected area that is not exposed to the irritant until a suitable care solution can be found. Consider an air purifier, as this will also help decrease airborne allergens. Gently clean your French Bulldog eyes with temped water. Boil the water and let it cool. It can help make your Frenchies eyes to become a lot more comfortable, and it helps remove any allergens or contaminants from their eyes. Use your cotton wool balls and be patient and careful. Eye injury Even the slightest eye injury may become an infected wound and vision loss. Look at their eyes when you notice your Frenchie squinting, avoiding bright lights and sunlight, and constantly blinking. Excessive tears are a common indication of issues, such as watery discharge. Eye injuries develop if a foreign object enters or lodges in the eye. In addition, your Frenchie scratching their cornea, overgrown eyelashes, or inverting the eyelids could even lead to eye trauma. Immediate Care When your Frenchie is blinking or constantly squints and hates bright lights, there is a good probability that something in their eye: With your thumb, raise the top eyelid of your Frenchie and search for any object or debris underneath. Try the same thing with the bottom eyelid. If you have trouble extracting the foreign object, gauze your Frenchie eye and take it to the vet. When the foreign object has pierced your Frenchies eye, urgently bandage it and immediately take them to the vet. When this liquid is created in excess, the eye pressure rises and damages the retina and the optic nerve. And can eventually lead to blindness. Glaucoma results in discomfort that is more acute in dogs than in people. The signs and symptoms include: Red or Bloodshot eyes Eye pain includes rubbing against the ground or some other surface or with their paw. Pupils appear different in size Cloudy cornea. YouTube Help! French bulldogs are extremely prone to eye problems. If your pup's eyes are red, something is definitely wrong — you just need to figure out the problem. If you can see a red membrane in the corner of your dog's eye, they are experiencing a cherry eye. You can help them by softly massaging the gland back into place. If the whites of your dog's eyes are red, or if the irritation persists, your dog may have an eye condition. Untreated eye problems can cause serious issues for french bulldogs. Schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. French Bulldogs Have Eye Problems According to Animal Care of Glouchester , french bulldogs have a high chance of inheriting or developing eye problems over the course of their lives. Potential conditions can range anywhere from cataracts to eyelashes that point in the wrong direction. Frenchie's eyes naturally protrude; they're not protected as well as the eyes of other dogs. This leaves them more prone to injuries and infections. Those cute protruding eyes can also develop muscular issues. The result is a sweet and lovable pup who occasionally gets a case of red and extremely irritated eyes. Cherry Eye Is Common in French Bulldogs If your french bulldog's eyes are extremely red, the most likely reason is the cherry eye. Cherry eye looks like a large pink or red spot sticking out of the inner corner of your dog's eyelid. Cherry eye occurs when the third eyelid gland in your Frenchie's eye starts to protrude from underneath their eyelid. According to Jordan from All About Frenchies , the reasons for this condition are not well understood, but the problem is easily treated by any veterinarian. The size of the pink spot will vary depending on the severity of the condition. You might see a tiny bit of pink, or the problem might look like a large red blob. If too much of the membrane is exposed, your dog might have difficulty seeing out of that eye. Your dog's eyes are likely to be red or swollen from the irritation. This is especially true if they have been scratching at their eye. However, cherry eye can occur even if the rest of the eye looks normal. Getting a cherry eye can be painful and irritating for your dog. The protruding membrane is very sensitive and will become more swollen if it's exposed to dust and air. Cherry eye is common in french bulldogs, but it can happen to any kind of dog. Treat it quickly to prevent the problem from becoming more serious. You Can Treat Cherry Eye at Home You can usually take care of cherry eye at home, but your efforts will be more effective if you treat it right away. Always ask your vet to confirm that the problem is a cherry eye and not a different medical condition. Hold your dog's head still, and gently massage their lower eyelid with your thumb; the gland should shift back into its proper place. This video by Jordan Johnson displays the right way to massage the eye without hurting your bulldog. Even if you fix the cherry eye yourself, you should always schedule an appointment with your vet. The membrane has become disconnected, and it will eventually pop back out again. Your vet can offer surgical treatments to prevent the cherry eye from occurring in the future. There are two surgeries used to treat the cherry eye. Your vet might simply suture the gland into place, or they might replace it entirely. Ernest Ward emphasizes that the gland must be replaced and not removed; the third eyelid gland is responsible for most of your dog's tear production. Dry eye occurs when your dog's tear ducts are not producing enough liquid. Bulldog Guide notes that dry eyes are often caused by genetic issues or adverse reactions to medications. Dry eye can also be caused by the surgery that's used to correct cherry eye. Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of dry eye are usually the same. Your dog's eyes will be dry, swollen, and itchy. You will probably notice that your dog is blinking, squinting, or pawing at their eyes on a consistent basis. One of the main identifiers of dry eye is an unusual green discharge coming out of your dog's eyes. This is mucus, and your dog's eyes are producing it to replace the missing tears. Dry eye is a serious problem for bulldogs. If their eyes don't receive enough moisture, they can get scratches, infections, and even corneal ulcers. Luckily, dry eye can be treated with special eye drops prescribed by your vet. Your vet may also recommend supplements that will help increase your dog's natural tear production. Treat Quickly to Prevent Corneal Ulcers Whether your dog has a cherry eye or dry eye, it's important that you get the issue taken care of as soon as possible. French bulldogs with eye problems can end up developing a much more serious condition: corneal ulcers. According to Nancy Thompson from IVG Hospitals , a corneal ulcer is a term used to describe any wound or abrasion on the corneal surface of your dog's eye. Superficial corneal ulcers are easy to treat and usually do not pose a serious risk to your dog. However, deep corneal ulcers can cause serious damage to your dog's eye and almost always require surgery. Corneal ulcers can permanently impair your dog's vision. Small problems like dry eye or cherry eye can leave your dog's eyes exposed and vulnerable. If they get even a small scratch, it could turn into a serious corneal ulcer. Vets can diagnose and treat corneal ulcers. They can also clear up your dog's dry eye before their eyes get damaged. If you suspect that your dog's eyes are at risk, see a vet as soon as you can. You should perform a simple checkup on your dog before you call the vet. If your Frenchie has already been diagnosed with an eye condition, you might be able to treat it yourself by following the vet's instructions. When you first notice that your Frenchie's eyes are red, pick your dog up and take a closer look. See if there's any membrane poking out of their eyelid; this is a cherry eye, and it can be massaged back into place. Next, check for any unusual discharge in the corners of their eyes. Any animal with irritated eyes will probably have dried tears, but if you notice yellow or green mucus, it could be a symptom of dry eye. Finally, if you notice a scratch or a wound on your dog's eye, get them to the vet quickly. If an eye wound develops a bacterial infection, your dog could end up losing their vision or even their entire eye. Luckily, your vet can easily disinfect and treat most scratches. You can't always prevent your dog from developing a cherry eye or dry eye. However, you can help keep them from getting an eye infection, and you can treat the symptoms if they develop a long-lasting eye issue. When you give your french bulldog a bath , make sure not to get any soap in their eyes. You may want to talk to your vet about finding a pet-friendly soap that doesn't risk giving your dog eye infection. All dogs develop mucus in the corners of their eyes; this is very similar to the crust that humans get after they wake up in the morning. Dogs can't clean this out for themselves. Take a moment every day to check your dog's eyes and wipe away the discharge. This is also a good time to look for a cherry eye and dry eye. French bulldogs may produce more discharge than other dogs. This can take the form of brown stains beneath their eyes. Will Blunt from Ask Frankie recommends using a sterile eyewash to clean your french bulldog's tear stains around once a week. If your dog is diagnosed with dry eye, the vet will recommend an ophthalmic ointment that can help remoisturize their eyes. Jordan from All About Frenchies says that these ointments are a medicine cabinet essential for any french bulldog owner. You should also consider keeping a Frenchie-sized dog cone in your supply cabinet. One of the most common causes of corneal ulcers is a dog scratching at their own eyes. Use the cone while you wait for the eye drops or ointment to reduce the swelling and irritation. Taking care of your french bulldog's eyes isn't as difficult as it seems. Keep your Frenchie's eyes clean , and perform a maintenance check on a regular basis. Follow your vet's instructions to the letter; they'll tell you how to treat your pup's specific condition. As long as you react to red-eye situations promptly, your dog will live a long and happy life with excellent vision. Shannon Cutts As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to this site. Impaired vision Treatment Take your French bulldog to the vet as soon as you notice any signs of glaucoma. Treatment usually consists of topical medicine or laser surgery. A word of caution: Wait too long, and the chances are the vet will have to remove one or both eyes surgically. Other Possible Reasons For Bloodshot Eyes In French Bulldogs In addition to all the above-listed causes, bloodshot eyes in French bulldogs can be a sign of an eye injury — or a chronic condition, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. It might also result from an illness, such as distemper. And in some cases, red eyes could indicate certain types of cancer. Try to minimize the risk of an eye injury by keeping sharp objects away from your pet. Do not use harsh chemicals around your house. Use only sterile eyewash and eyewash pads. Finally — and please remember this — do not try to treat your French bulldog on your own! Do not buy over-the-counter medications without consulting your vet first. Contact your vet as soon as you notice bloodshot eyes. The vet will determine the underlying cause and prescribe the meds that your furry friend needs! When not writing, he enjoys hiking and time in nature with his pets. But why do these dogs have red eyes? The answer may not be as straightforward as you might think. In fact, there are a number of potential causes, including genetics, allergies, and environmental factors. The cause of red eyes can be a combination of things, such as genetics, allergies, and environmental conditions. French Bulldogs have some distinct anatomical features which can affect their eyes, including their wrinkles and the shape of their faces. They can also inherit conditions that lead to red eyes, such as congenital glaucoma or entropion. Environmental factors can also play a role in red eyes. Make sure your pup is getting the right diet and avoiding air pollution as much as possible. Genetic Causes When it comes to French Bulldogs, genetics can play a role in their eye color. Because of their anatomical features, French Bulldogs can have eyes that appear red. They can suffer from inherited conditions that can cause their eyes to take on a red hue. Eye color is determined by the genetic makeup of a Frenchie, as well as the pigments in their eyes. While some Frenchies can have black eyes, others can have lighter shades of brown, amber or even a copper-like hue. Anatomical Features French Bulldogs have a unique eye structure that can contribute to their red eyes. Their eyes are more round and protrude outwards due to their short muzzle, creating an increased chance of having issues such as dry eye, tear duct problems and irritation caused by dust and other environmental factors. French Bulldogs frequently have shallow eye sockets which can further irritate the eyes. To prevent any eye issues, it is important to regularly clean around the eyes and check them for any signs of irritation. Allergies can also be a cause of red eyes in French Bulldogs. Common signs that your Frenchie might be allergic to something include red, itchy eyes, excessive tearing, and paw chewing. If your Frenchie does have allergies, the vet may recommend adjusting their diet or providing them with allergy medication. Environmental factors can contribute to red eyes in French Bulldogs. Sun exposure can greatly affect their eyes and make them prone to drying out and becoming irritated. Their diet and the air quality in their environment can have an effect on their eyes. Inherited Conditions Inherited conditions can play a part in why your French Bulldog has red eyes. Inherited conditions can be passed down from generation to generation, and if your Frenchie has inherited one of these conditions, it could be a contributing factor to the redness in their eyes. Some common inherited conditions that can cause red eyes include entropion, which is a condition in which the eyelid rolls inwards, and cherry eye, in which the third eyelid slips out of place and causes the eye to become red and irritated. If you suspect that your Frenchie may have an inherited condition causing red eyes, it is important to speak to your veterinarian as soon as possible to get the proper treatment and advice. It is also possible that your Frenchie may be exhibiting signs of an ocular issue, such as glaucoma or cataracts. It is also important to keep your Frenchie away from bright lights and other potential irritants, and to monitor their eyes for any further signs of irritation. Keeping your Frenchie healthy and comfortable will help ensure that their eyes remain healthy and clear for years to come. Allergies can cause symptoms like itchy, red, watery eyes, puffy eyelids, and tear-staining. Allergens can include pollen, dust, mites, fleas, and food. A vet can recommend treatments like antihistamines, eye drops, and shampoos. Taking proactive steps now can help keep your pup healthy and free of red-eye symptoms. Allergic symptoms can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including red eyes, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and skin irritations. Your Frenchie might also experience a watery discharge from the eyes and nose, as well as scratching and pawing at the face. Another common sign of allergies is a condition called conjunctivitis. This is an inflammation of the lining of the eye, and it can cause redness and irritation. In severe cases, the eye may swell and your Frenchie may experience pain. To properly diagnose conjunctivitis, your vet may need to take a swab of the eye to determine if there are any bacterial or viral infections present. Treatment for conjunctivitis typically involves eye drops, ointments, and antibiotics. Allergies in French Bulldogs can be caused by environmental factors, such as dust and pollen or a poor diet. You should look out for signs and symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy skin. Treating allergies in French Bulldogs can be relatively simple and straightforward. Start by having your Frenchie examined by a vet to determine the cause of the allergens. And 5 Simple Cleaning Steps You can use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to help reduce the amount of dander that is released into the air. This can include installing air purifiers, keeping windows closed, and regularly vacuuming and mopping your floors. With the right steps, you can help your Frenchie stay comfortable and healthy. Sun exposure can increase the risk of red eyes for your Frenchie. Diet can affect eye health. Make sure your Frenchie is eating a balanced diet that contains all the essential nutrients they need for good eye health. Try to avoid taking them out into areas with high levels of air pollution. Opt for walks in more rural or well-ventilated areas. Doing this can help reduce the risk of red eyes in your Frenchie. UV rays can cause permanent damage, leading to red and irritated eyes. To protect your Frenchie, make sure you limit his time outdoors during peak sun hours and always use pet-safe sunscreen when outside. Be sure to use eye protection if your Frenchie is playing in the sun. You should look for signs of eye strain such as squinting, redness, and discharge. Whenever outdoors, be sure to keep your Frenchie in the shade. If your Frenchie is showing signs of eye strain or discomfort, take him to the vet immediately. Diet It is important to feed your Frenchie a healthy diet that provides all the necessary nutrients it needs. Choose high-quality foods that are made specifically for French Bulldogs. There should be an appropriate balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the diet. Pay attention to the ingredients list, as some foods may contain ingredients that Frenchies may be allergic to. This can lead to problems such as obesity and digestive issues, both of which can cause redness in the eyes. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water throughout the day to keep them hydrated. Air Pollution Air pollution is a major consideration when it comes to the health and wellbeing of your French Bulldog. Pollutants such as dust, pollen, exhaust fumes and chemical fumes can contribute to red eyes in your Frenchie. Keeping your pup away from polluted areas is the best way to reduce redness and irritation in their eyes. Daily walks or trips to the park will help keep their eyes clear and healthy. If you have to walk your pup in a polluted area, make sure to wear a face mask and pay attention to any signs of redness or irritation in their eyes. Allergies, and environmental factors can all play a part in causing the characteristic gaze of these beloved dogs. Be aware of signs and symptoms of allergies and contact your vet if you have any concerns. Ensure that your Frenchie gets adequate sun protection and a balanced, nutritious diet. Keep an eye on air pollution levels in your area, too. The answer lies in a combination of factors, such as genetics, allergies, and environmental conditions. Inherited conditions like entropion, which is when the eyelids fold inward and rub against the eyeball, can also cause red eyes. If you notice your Frenchie rubbing their eyes, pawing at their face, or squinting, have them checked out by a vet as soon as possible. Allergies can be managed with the right treatment and avoiding any potential triggers. Environmental factors can also lead to red eyes. Make sure to keep your Frenchie out of direct sunlight and provide them with a balanced diet. Minimize air pollution by ensuring their living space is well-ventilated. Genetics are the most likely cause, with some anatomical features and inherited conditions playing a part. It could also be caused by allergies, so watch out for signs and symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and coughing. Environmental factors can also play a role, such as sun exposure and diet, as well as air pollution. So make sure your Frenchie has access to a clean environment and a healthy lifestyle. Regularly check for any symptoms of allergies or health problems, and be sure to keep up-to-date with vaccinations. Talk to your vet about any potential issues or health risks and make sure your Frenchie has the best care possible. Post Views: .A short snout and other genetic predispositions may cause them to have frequent problems with their eyes. Any delay can cause a serious infection and even result in permanent blindness or the loss of an eye. Dry eye, corneal ulcers, and cherry eye are the most common eye problems your Frenchie may experience. More than half of these eye problems are caused by an injury to the cornea. Some other common French Bulldog eye problems you may come across are entropion a condition where the genetic trait of droopy eyelids causes the eyelid to roll inward and cause the eyelashes to scratch the eye , ectropion another condition where the genetic trait of droopy eyelids cause the lower eyelid to sag and expose the delicate tissues underneath , abnormal eyelashes, persistent pupillary membranes, and pink eye. Cherry Eye This condition is one of the most common eye problems that Frenchies experience. Cherry eye can be characterized by red tissue protruding from the inside corner of the eye. The protruding tissue is caused by the prolapsed gland of the eyelid. If a Frenchie has this eye problem, they may also experience other symptoms like discharge and excessively watery eyes. Cherry eye is usually not painful, but if not treated in a timely manner it can lead to other serious eye problems. Treatment for this condition will involve suturing the gland back in place or completely removing the gland. The dryness will cause the cornea of the eye and the surrounding tissues to become inflamed. In response, the eyes will produce thick yellow or green discharge. Dry eye can be painful for your pup so if you notice them squinting or blinking a lot, they may need treatment as soon as possible. Treatment will involve the daily application of an ointment or eye drop. Corneal Ulcers Out of all the eye problems your Frenchie may experience, corneal ulcers can be the most serious. Corneal ulcers will cause your pup to be in extreme pain, and they will try to relieve the pain by rubbing their eyes. Ulcers are usually caused by some type of trauma, untreated dry eye, or a chemical burn due to soap or shampoo, and it will require urgent medical care. Treatment will involve the application of antibiotic ointment as well as medication for pain and swelling. If the ulcer is very severe it may require surgical intervention. If your Frenchie is rubbing his or her eye with their paw or on the carpet, is excessively blinking, has unusual drainage coming from one or both eyes, or if you can see spots or redness, your pup may need to be seen by a vet. Cloudiness, change in eye color, tear-stained fur, red or white eyelid lining, and a visible third eyelid is also common signs of an eye problem. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to get it checked out as soon as you can. Most issues can become serious and cause permanent damage if they are left untreated. If you suspect allergies may be causing the symptoms, you could purchase an over-the-counter saline wash. If the symptoms do not improve after two days, see your vet. But there are a few steps you can take to reduce this risk. When bathing your Frenchie make sure shampoo or soap does not get into their eye. Chemicals from shampoo can easily irritate their eyes. Also, examine their eyes regularly for dry eye or any unusual marks. This can be done with regular application of sterile eye wash with eye wash pads. Wrapping Things Up French Bulldog eye problems are very common , and any French Bulldog owner may be able to quickly confirm this. However, with the proper preventative care, small issues can be caught before anything gets too serious. Seeing a vet regularly who is experienced with bulldog care is the best way to keep your pup healthy. Pin1 5 Shares We love our pets, often times in a way that other people may not quite understand. When something is wrong with them, we want answers, and quick. Our Frenchie, Claude, developed bloodshot and red eyes last week. It was really worrying, so I took him to vet. French bulldogs can have red and bloodshot eyes due to a condition called Cherry eye. All dogs have a third eyelid which is a clear membrane that cleans the eye and distributes tears. Cherry eye occurs when this eyelid becomes injured or infected. This results in dry, bloodshot, and red eyes. It might not be cherry eye with your Frenchie; it could also be dry eye syndrome, corneal ulcers, allergy. Claude had the cherry eye problem, so will talk more about that first. What causes cherry eye in French bulldogs? Cherry eye is not a life-threatening condition read more about it , but it can be a serious and chronic condition. How to spot cherry eye in a Frenchie Cherry eye is easy enough to spot, with the first sign being your dog showing noticeable signs of discomfort around his eyes. With Claude, we noticed him pawing at his eye, and trying to scratch it which undoubtedly make it more bloodshot and even worse. His eye was noticeably dry, and he himself looked very irritated. The vet told me that sometimes, the third eyelid will also be visibly inflamed, and very red in appearance. These are the most obvious signs that your French bulldog is experiencing eye discomfort. Other symptoms of cherry eye include a significant increase in tears, the eye will water, swell and your dog could suffer with impaired vision. Your dog may exhibit only a few, or all of these symptoms. If your dog exhibits any of these problems, please do what we did book an appointment for him to see his vet as soon as possible. Cherry eye can quickly become extremely painful for your dog and treatment options are best discussed with a professional. How to treat red eyes in a French bulldog There are a few ways to treat cherry eye; it can be corrected surgically and non-surgically. The most successful non-surgical treatment consists of simple eye massage techniques that can be taught to you by your vet. This is what we did. It worked using a combination of some eye drops, a warm damp cloth, and massaging his eye using a technique our vet showed us. He was a lot better after a few weeks. We will be going back to see ours in a month to see how Claude is getting on. The most successful surgical treatment is a called an attachment procedure. It involves anchoring the fleshy part of the membrane to more sturdy tissue in the lower corner of the eye socket, preventing cherry eye from returning. This surgery can be a life time solution, and your Frenchie is unlikely to experience cherry eye again. What else could be causing red eyes in your Frenchie? Red eyes in French bulldogs are not always due to cherry eye, as this breed is prone to a range of different bloodshot eye problems. Some of these problems are caused by environmental factors, such as dust. These are far easier to treat, while others require a trip to the veterinarian. Dry eye Dry eye means your Frenchie is not producing enough tears to keep his eyes moist. This condition can have many underlying causes, from allergies and illnesses to inherited problems and environment. The eyes will begin producing a thick, cloudy yellow to green discharge and your dog will exhibit behavior like squinting or blinking a lot. Dry eye is not serious, but it can be painful for your Frenchie. Typical treatments include, ointment, antibiotics, or eye drops. If it is due to an infection, or illness your vet will most likely prescribe your Frenchie an antibiotic, which will clear up the infection and get rid of his red eyes. For allergies, environmental factors, or inherited eye problems your Frenchie will probably need to be given eye drops daily to prevent symptoms from reoccurring. Corneal ulcers Corneal ulcers are one of the more serious eye conditions your Frenchie can get. It can be caused by trauma to the eye, untreated dry eye, chemical burns from shampoo and grooming products, or any foreign substance your Frenchie gets in his eyes. Corneal ulcers cause significant pain and can lead to blindness. Corneal ulcers treatment is usually given in the form of an antibiotic, plus some dog pain medication. If you believe your Frenchie might have a corneal ulcer it is best to get him to a vet as soon as possible. If the ulcer is severe it may require surgical intervention to correct and prevent blindness from occurring. Fever Frenchies will also exhibit sore and red eyes when they have a fever. Find out more about how to do that, and what signs of fever to look out for here. Preventing red eye problems in French bulldogs An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take care when bathing and grooming him When bathing, or grooming your Frenchie pay extra attention while working near his head. Frenchies naturally have sensitive eyes and the chemicals in shampoos and other grooming products can cause irritation, inflammation, infections and even more serious conditions like corneal ulcers. If you take your Frenchie to a dog groomer, be sure to express these concerns to them. Tear stains are not only unsightly, they can harbor bacteria. Handy Hint: Click here to read a comprehensive guide on how to clean French Bulldog tear stains , plus how you can reduce them from happening in the first place. You can use a sterile eyewash product from your local drugstore but be sure to avoid products that contain added chemical ingredients. The eye wash you use for your Frenchie should be a sterile saline solution only — visit my Frenchie Gear page to see what saline solution we recommend and used with Claude. Conclusion Why does your French bulldog have red eyes? Well, it could be down to a number of reasons as discussed above, and for us it was the dreaded cherry eye — but thankfully Claude appears to have made a complete recovery. If your Frenchie does develop bloodshot or red eyes please do get in touch with your vet, as it could be the sign of a longer-term health issue that will need resolving with professional help. Need more advice on health? Whilst I always advise you get advice from a vet, there are certain health problems French Bulldog owners should be aware of and know how to spot. You can see what they all are in this guide to Frenchie health problems and symptoms. Home » Blog » 5 most common French Bulldog eye problems 5 most common French Bulldog eye problems Frenchies and other bulldog breeds are more exposed to eye problems as their shorter snouts cannot protect them as much from scratches and things that can get into them. In this article, we address some of the most common French Bulldog eye problems. Watery eyes in French bulldogs Some dogs simply produce more tear than others. The constant tearing colors the fur, especially in between the wrinkles, which is even more noticeable in white or light-colored Frenchies. Apart from being an aesthetic issue, these stains may lead to health issues as well: since bacteria thrive in wet conditions, your puppy will be more likely to catch an eye infection. It is completely safe for the eyes and is the best way for a thorough sanitization of the area under them. Our TomKings Family members have also shared their experiences in our Facebook group, read their experiences here. Inflamed eyes in French bulldogs You can recognize inflamed eyes by being red, which may be due to a number of reasons. For example, if your Frenchie has a runny nose as well, and is also sneezing and coughing a lot, then they most probably caught a cold for which your vet will need to prescribe antibiotics. In such cases, you should put some eye drops into them which contain antibiotics, our recommendation is Tobradex which you can purchase at the vet and human pharmacy as well. The solution again is an eye drop with antibiotics, and a visit to the vet! Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! First name Email Cherry eye in French bulldogs French bulldogs have loose skin, which pulls down their face and makes their mucous membrane visible. The mucous membrane is red because it is full of blood vessels, so it is perfectly normal. There is a minor issue called cherry eye, which is very common in all bulldog breeds. You will just need to use some antibiotic eye drops afterwards and it will heal quickly. Ultimate Guide First name Email There are also surgeries where they cut and remove the cherry eye. This method is not recommended as the third eyelid plays an essential part in producing tears, and without it your Frenchie may have constant dry eyes. Dry eyes in French bulldogs When a Frenchie has dry eyes, they are not producing enough tears to keep their eye balls moist. There may be several reasons for that, like medications, removal of cherry eye, or even sleeping with their eyes open. You have to put drops in both eyes twice a day, or even more if you have the time at the weekends for example. Corneal ulcer in French bulldogs Corneal ulcers are probably the most serious and painful eye problems in Frenchies. They usually occur due to some kind of trauma or injury to the cornea, chemical burn from shampoo, but can also be caused by untreated dry eyes. The symptoms include your puppy rubbing their eye to relieve the pain, keeping it closed, or there may even be some discharge coming out of it. The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies , or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.

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black pug puppies for sale in pa - Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The biggest challenge is the first few weeks. We recommend that you plan on using some vacation time during the first few weeks to get your puppy off to a great start. Put the hard work in early, and you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor after! We see the biggest failures occur when people are not willing to invest the time needed during the first few weeks. In these weeks, your puppy will become crate trained, housebroken, and continue learning their basic commands sit, down, stay and come. We will have already started this in our home but you must continue putting the hard work in the first few weeks. Yes that could mean some sleepless nights but it will be over before you know it. Once Your Puppy is Home: Once your puppy is home, enjoy it. First and foremost just know that this will not last for a long period of time. Puppyhood can be so rewarding but you have to be patient and be their leader. Bernedoodles must be trained using a very loving and patient approach. We feed ours about 2. See our puppy contract in header above, click the link, and we have the feeding schedule spelled out there. If you want a housebroken puppy, and fast, the bottom line is that you need to get your puppy out frequently. We take ours out every minutes, and more frequently right after meals. After they drink we always allow them access to clean fresh water or eat we will take them out every minutes until they have both urinated and defecated. The bottom line, is that if you want to housebreak your puppy fast, you need to prevent as many accidents as possible. Never, ever, use newspaper or puppy pads if you want to do this the right way. Bottom line is that the puppies will quickly learn that outside is where they are supposed to go to the bathroom. Every puppy is different, and some will have faster metabolisms. You need to watch for the visual cues your puppy will tell you when they have to go increased pacing, head down sniffing.Also we set up our puppy area using baby fences that is next to the door that they will use to go in and out of the house to go potty. They will quickly learn to tell you when they have to go by either sitting or standing next to the door, or in some cases, scratching at the door.Some people have had success training their dogs to paw at some bells that you can tether up at the back door as well. Bottom line, is that the more you're on top of this early, the quicker they will learn the deal of housebreaking. In most cases we have had our puppies housebroken within a day or two, but this means we are always with the puppies the first few weeks until they have the hang of it. Once they do, they won't be perfect and accidents will still happen and usually the persons mistake. DO NOT scold the dog. Just quickly scoop up the dog and take them outside. When the puppies are young, we start telling them to go potty for pee and poo poo for.You can use any other command but this is what we have used successfully. Training them to go on command is hugely helpful and starts imprinting on the dog what they need to do outside. As the puppies start moving around outside we just say "Go Potty".We keep repeating this until they give the characteristic squat of urinating or hump backed and crouched position of defecating. As soon as they are done at the very moment, and not a second later we excitedly praise the puppy by saying "Good Potty" or "Good Poo Poo". You can also first say "Yes! The Bernedoodle puppies want to please you and they catch on to this very quickly. You continue to repeat this process everytime they go outside and they will get the hang of it. This is extremely useful especially when you're on long road trips or in a rush to leave the house for a bit! We typically remove food after the puppies have had all the opportunity they want to feed and usually have the last feeding around 7 pm but leave water out all the time until about 8 pm. We will continue to walk them every minutes unless they are sleeping and we try to get them some good romping around time at this point so they are good and tired for bed time. We use crates at night time and during the day on occassion to get them used to the crate. We give them one last walk around pm. When they are weeks of age, expect to get up once in the early morning hours to walk them, but just let them go to the bathroom, and then promptly return them to their crate. Be strong with this! Don't give in to any whining or barking or the like. If you do, they have conditioned you and the crate will become a dust collector. The first few nights the puppies may literally go bizerk on you.Be strong! Don't do anything more than this. We had one puppy that cried and pawed at the crate door the whole night and we thought for sure this would be the one that wasn't going to crate train. Well by day three, she was perfect. You just need to know that except on very, very, very rare occassion, your puppy is going to learn to settle and sleep in their crate. You just have to be mentally strong, get some ear plugs, give your puppies maybe a sound machine and some toys, and try to get some rest. We just get one of the XL size crates and then safely secure an object to give them less space.This way you won't have to get a bigger crate when they grow. Although we give them an open fenced in area that we supervise to play in, we will put them in the crate several times during the day for about an hour so that they can get used to the routine. They may fight it at first, but will learn to love it very soon. Just don't quit on this very important step. Don't over do this at the young ages and just incorporate training throughout the day as a general part of their daily routine. SO if you want to teach them sit, just put a piece of food in your hand, palm facing up, and begin moving the food slightly above their head and backward while saying "sit".We will have already started this with them but keep it going! Just be patient, enjoy puppyhood, have a great attitude, and you'll develop what will be your favorite dog ever! However there are some things you can do to help. First, have a toy or bone within reach and when the puppy begins mouthing a hand or arm or something just say "OUCH" and then give them the toy or bone. Do not hit nor tap on the puppies snout. Just a firm and loud "OUCH!! Puppies are exploring and play biting each other during the first 8 weeks and they learn how hard they can and can not bite. Human flesh, without the thick coat, is a lot more sensitive and the puppy needs to learn what is and what is not appropriate. Don't be afraid to raise your voice when the mouthing is too hard. Or if the puppy is doing good licking then say "Good kisses" or whatever praise statement you want to use. But really encourage the good behavior. The frequency of puppy mouthing will naturally decrease but you need to teach them acceptable force of their bite.We are always here for you and will help partner with you during this process. Please never, ever hesitate to drop us a line with any questions or concerns. We want to see you have great success with your new family member!! If used properly, they can be a wonderful safe haven for your pet. At Premier Doodles, we start this process early on and all of our puppies from weeks will have multiple crates available in their kennel kept in our master bedroom. They learn what we call a Positive Conditioned Emotional Response PCER which means they come to learn that the crate is a great place to be and have to train this. The crate should be big enough for your pet to stand up, lay down and turn around. Don't worry about dividers as most all of our bernedoodles are great in the crate. Should accidents begin to appear on one side of the crate you'll have to creatively reduce the amount of space they have inside the crate. IMPORTANT NOTE: you will need to purchase two crates, one at the back door with a connected x-pen or other type of portable fencing that is clipped onto the crate to make a small play area, and the other next to your bed if you want maximum success. We have a YouTube channel called Premier Doodles where we have a short video showing what this setup looks like. The crate should be used to safely confine your pet when you are away from home, at night and for short periods of time when you are unable to watch them. We do not recommend keeping any type of collar on your pet while in the crate or in your home.It is important that from the very beginning, you never use your crate to punish your pet. You must make it a positive experience from the start. We want to create a PCER. You most definitely can confine your pet for short periods of time when they are misbehaving, but you never want to place your pet in there in a harsh or negative manner. If your pet develops a fear or dislike to their crate, it can be a very difficult situation to turn around. The crate should be a safe haven for your pet. It is an area that they should be able to go to and feel secure and comfortable. Use softer chew toys as they are more quiet at night time especially while you're sleeping. This includes bedding. We will attempt to put old towels or perhaps even an old sheet in my dogs crate but if they start to chew them, out they come. It is not worth the risk to have a pet ingest something that literally can kill them or cost a hefty price to have surgically removed. We usually keep our pets in their crate at night until they are able to hold their potty all night and they understand that we sleep at night, we don't "party". We want our dogs in the bedroom at night so we will then use a baby gate to keep them in there with us at night. They are typically crated during the day while we are gone until they are approximately 2 years of age. That is the average for dogs to mature especially bernedoodles. This may seem like a long time, but it is well worth the patience. Dogs that are well socialized are a pure pleasure to be around. They are far more "stable" than an un-socialized pet. They are much less likely to get themselves into trouble, which could ultimately get you into "big" trouble. This couldn't be further from the truth. They should always be socialized with safe, healthy dogs that are tolerant of obnoxiouspuppies. It is a common misconception that a lot of people believe that in order to have a "protective" dog, you must keep it away from people. You must praise or encourage inappropriate behavior, i. In reality, a dog that is well socialized is every bit as likely to alert you, or perhaps even defend you in the face of danger. The critical difference is: An un-socialized dog is going to assume that every single person, child etc. They have a much higher ability to "perceive" what is a true threat than the unfortunate un-social dog. The un-socialized pet is actually one that is running on fear of the "unknown". The reality is this: You should be getting a pet for a "pet". They should be a well-loved, properly cared for member of your family. To get a "pet" solely for "protection" is usually a recipe for disaster. We all can take comfort in the fact that all dogs usually alert us to something "different" in or around the house. That in itself is a huge deterrent to someone who is up to no good. To rely on a pet to keep us totally safe from harm, is not fair to the dog, nor should it be "their'' responsibility alone. A final note: To allow a dog to pick and choose what they perceive as a threat, to not socialize your dog, to not properly train and provide care for your dog, to not allow your dog to be a member of the family, is almost ALWAYS a disaster in the making. Insurance companies, Boarding Kennels, Hotels, Apartments, etc. There are certain Breeds of dogs that are not "welcome". There are no "bad" breeds in my opinion, but unfortunately, there are literally thousands of "bad" owners. Expose your pet to all different types of people, noises, environments etc. Do not force your pet to accept strangers, nor do you want to coddle fearful behavior. Do be mindful that your new puppy is not fully vaccinated until 16 weeks of age. Until then, you can still get them out and in car rides and with a rubbermaid tote can put into a cart at Lowe's and let them hear and see new people. Do yourself a favor and socialize your pet. You and they will be glad you did! They need to be corrected the instant the unwanted behavior occurs. They live in a world of cause and effect. Dogs live in the NOW. Corrections have to happen in the NOW. The quickest way to teach your dog that you are not trustworthy is to punish your dog with physical violence or to reprimand him for some action that he is not presently engaged in. Abuse is never acceptable, hitting a dog is never acceptable. You cannot use fear as a means of making an animal behave; it doesn't work. Showing an animal strong leadership and giving rules is not the same thing as instilling fear and administering inappropriate punishment. Never correct an animal out of anger of frustration. When you try and correct your dog out of anger, you are usually more out of control than your dog is. You are fulfilling your own needs, not the animals. Negative attention is better than no attention at all This is something that most parents can relate to as well. Whether this is laying down napping, playing with appropriate toys, sitting before being allowed outside, greeting people, etc. My number 1 rule for solving behavioral problems is to NOT reinforce them. Extinguish them or better yet work to not let them creep up into their pattern of life. Simply put, if your dog is acting out inappropriately and you react to it, you are very likely reinforcing that behavior. You may be reacting negatively, but you are reacting. However; if you re-direct your pet to something appropriate and then reward them for that, you will usually end up extinguishing the behavior that you do not want. For example: If your dog is jumping on you and you scream, yell, push or otherwise acknowledge the pet, you are reinforcing that behavior. Have you ever seen a "sane" dog repeatedly attack a telephone pole for no reason???? Having said that, you must also use common sense. If "Fido" is chewing on an electrical cord, you can not simply ignore it. What you should do is very quickly but calmly get up and with a sharp "NO" correct the pup and then immediately re-direct the pup to something appropriate. Reward for correct behavior. But it doesn't have to be! And with our Premier bernedoodles you'll find them to be one of the easiest puppies to housebreak because we have already started this process well before you bring your new puppy home. The following tips are helpful, if followed, in making a great and fun time less stressful for you and your pup! Once your puppy is a little bit older, they almost always can hold their potty overnight. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to standup, turnaround, and lay down. Our bernedoodle puppies do great in a Midwest XL wire crate. Puppies should be fed 3 times per day, at the very least they need to be fed 2 times per day. Please talk to your Veterinarian about your abilities to feed your pet and follow their advice. We personally do not recommend "paper'' training a puppy. No matter how you look at it, it is giving the puppy permission to use the bathroom in the house. It, of course, is a personal choice and some people's work schedule does not allow for anything different. Just keep in mind, it will be more difficult to change the "way of thinking" for the older puppy and you need to be patient Young puppies need to potty much more frequently than older puppies. Take that into consideration when housebreaking. We typically take our puppies out every minutes the first week after coming home, whether we think they need to go or not. This will be increased to hours after a few weeks. The first order of business should always be to potty when first going outside. Take your puppy to the area you want them to go and give them just a short amount of time to take care of business. When they are outside we start using potty commands Go Potty for 1 and Go Poo Poo for 2 at about 4 weeks of age and we even start using these phrases the first weeks. We repeat these phrases until they posture to do their business, at which time we shut up. As soon as they are done like the millisecond! We also do this in the wee hours of the morning but without this excitement and never with the lights on. Then take them back out to the potty area and try again. Once they have pottied, they have earned some time to play, explore, etc. Puppies are like small children, they need to be watched at all times, they need to learn right from wrong and they need a chance to be puppies! Get the puppy outside immediately while somebody else is cleaning up the mess. We use OdoBan to take all odors out so that it does not become a place that smells like an area to relieve themselves. You must use common sense when taking water away. If it is hot, the puppy has been playing hard, etc. You can also give ice cubes. Make sure you take your puppy outside right before you go to bed. If they immediately start crying you need to ignore them - they are seeking attention, and giving it to them even negative is teaching them that "this is the way to get attention". Place the puppy down and let them take care of business. Again we are saying quietly "Go Potty". Once they've gone potty, quietly praise them "Good potty" and take them right back to their crate. Do not play with your puppy, or otherwise encourage them to "wake" up, or that very well may be their incentive to "party" at 3 a. Once your puppy has developed a little more control, you will find that they start sleeping throughout the night in no time. In the beginning, they physically cannot hold their potty all night, once they can however; it is not in their best interest to get up in the middle of the night unless it has been made "rewarding"to them. We always get our puppies out immediately after eating and drinking. If after 15 minutes they don't go potty we will bring back inside and place in a crate. About 5 minutes later we will take back outside and repeat this process until they have relieved themselves. This is so common that most puppies will go through this at some point in their early part of their life. The best thing you can do is to try to avoid doing those things that seem to bring this behavior about. This is normal. If this behavior continues best to have a veterinarian check for a UTI. Here are some tips to help: Use a crate when you cannot supervise. Put his crate near a door allowing him to get outside quickly, potentially avoiding an accident. Keep quiet but relaxed. Ignore his behavior. Build up gradually to new things. Do basic obedience training. Make it fun and confidence building. Using lots of obedience commands and praises helps distract. Take him out regularly to do his business so his bladder will not build up pressure every 15 minutes. Do not go straight to his crate when entering a room. Allow him to calm down first, before letting him out. Just ignore the dog and walk past. When you go to the crate to let him out do so quietly. When out in the yard, do not call him up to you but walk slowly around with him. Give him a command to urinate and praise him calmly using voice only when he does. Do everything slowly and work at making your body language calm and unconcerned. Keep verbal volume low. Get down at ground level. Or sit on a low chair. Be non-threatening. Spend time sitting with him by your side on a leash. Take him for walks where he can gradually be exposed to the situations that trigger his urination. Ask friends to practice no touch, no talk, no eye contact around him. Avoid situations and people that you cannot control until your dog is learning to control himself and gain confidence. Submissive urination can be annoying, but exhibiting your frustration to your dog only makes it worse way worse as this is the very reason why they will sometimes do it. With a little planning and adjusting your attitude, you can minimize and overcome the problem which will disappear anyways but mine as well help along the line. However,there are rules that must be followed. If you ignore the rules, you should not play at all. If played properly, these games are some of the best anti-aggression exercises you can practice with your dog. Rule 1 While playing tug-of-war, most dogs will make a mistake and grab fingers or a hand instead of the toy. Because we are playing a game and feel that the mouth or bite was accidental, people tend to ignore it. This is a BIG mistake! If you allow rough housing or tug-of-war, you MUST never allow the dog to mouth or bite for any reason. The very instant the dog's tooth or teeth touch you or your clothing, you must immediately reprimand the dog and STOP playing. Dogs are very capable of controlling their teeth. Rule 2 The dog should never be allowed to initiate the play session or grab for the toy without invitation. Only when you give a command such as "take it". Especially with puppies, if you allow the dog to grab things without invitation, then you can find yourself playing while trying to get dressed, put on socks etc. You start the game, you end the game. Rule 3 It is always a good idea to stop the game every 30 seconds or so. When you stop the game, give your dog the command to "give or drop it". Make your dog sit or down. Praise and release. If you want to continue to play, give the dog the command to "take it" and continue. If the dog does not respond to the commands to give, you must immediately take the toy away and stop playing. This would clearly tell you that your dog either does not understand the command, or you are absolutely NOT in control. If you are not in control, you should never play this game with your dog. What may be a "soft" bite to you very well may not be to a child or an elderly person. When bites occur in play, in greeting or as an accident, we tend to ignore or excuse it dogs are very capable of controlling their teeth. What happens is the dog learns that they can act recklessly around us. We have taught them that there is no need to exercise caution around us or be respectful. They learn that biting is acceptable. Dogs do not do this to each other. They don't rationalize or make excuses. Biting and disrespect are swiftly and effectively reprimanded and it very rarely, if ever, happens again. Puppies are going to mouth you.We want them to learn an appropriate ABI or in other words how much force can they bite down that is deemed acceptable ie doesn't hurt. We need to first work with this component and then work on reducing the frequency. But bite force first. As you're playing with your puppy just keep screeching "OUCH" when it's too hard and at the moment they cease or bite softly praise them big time. This will go back and forth and forth and back like a ping pong match well at least played by two competent players! This will not be a one session deal. This will take weeks and weeks of being very consistent in your "OUCH" every time they either bite you or your clothes too hard. We do want to promote gentle bite behavior as this reinforces the bonding and teaches them an appropriate ABI which is imperative for producing a stable adult dog. DO NOT take the mouthing behavior away but lets just shape it so that the puppy knows when it's too hard. If your puppy is clearly highly energized and not responding then the play session is over and you walk away. That's it. Never ever hit or smack your dog to correct or thump them on the head as this will only produce head shy dogs. Remember…It is natural for dogs to bite, it must be understood that biting human flesh is the problem and will never be tolerated when it's too hard. The good news is that puppy mouthing behavior aka puppy biting almost always goes away between months even if you let it go. We just prefer the process of teaching boundaries early on while still allowing for some gentle mouthing behaviors. Just remember this will take a LONG time and will make up a big part of your early puppy training. Remember, dogs repeat behaviors that are in some way, shape or form rewarding to them. If you can remove the reward negative punishment , the behavior usually will decrease and then disappear. You need to figure out what the "reward" is and then remove it. Obviously, some behavior will not be able to be extinguished. For example, if the dog enjoys rolling in feces or mud, chewing, barking or anything that in and of itself is rewarding and you cannot "remove" it, it will continue. Yes there are some more invasive ways to extinguish these behaviors thru negative punishment e-collars, putting dog feces in holes being dug in the backyard and filling it, etc. Extinction can work great for nuisance behaviors such as barking, whining for attention, jumping, begging, controlling play, etc. If you attempt to use extinction, be prepared for the behavior to escalate before it starts to decrease. For example: If your dog is used to jumping on you and receiving attention and you decide to ignore it, the dog will become confused - "Hey.Very often, they will try harder to get the desired attention. If you stick to your guns and refuse to acknowledge the dog, the behavior will usually decrease and eventually stop. If you pay attention or reward it even one time or even slightly, it will be all the more difficult to extinguish in the future. The only thing you will accomplish is to have the dog work harder to get what they want. The type of reaction depends on the individual personality of the puppy, his overall resilience, and your reaction. We do fear recovery response training during the first 8 weeks to make sure they have a fast recovery to new novel noises and objects and situations. The how and when of fear periods also depends on the individual puppy, so you may or may not see it in your puppy as described. Generally speaking, puppies go through two potential fear periods during puppyhood. The first fear phase comes when the puppy is just months of age. This also coincides with a very critical socialization period. Your puppy is coming into a new home, leaving behind his mother, and litter mates, and is being introduced to a new family. What you have to do is just keep everything FUN! Puppies look to you as a security buffer and want to see how you react in a situation. Carry super yummy treats with you everywhere you go. Ask people to give your puppy a treat. Give treats with lots of praise in situations where you see your puppy is a little unsure. Carry a favorite toy with you and play squeaky toys or tug of war. This helps a puppy feel more comfortable. It is important to be upbeat and excited about new things and encourage your puppy to feel the same way. The second fear phase comes later in puppyhood. These puppies normally become worried about novel things, or you may see your puppy express fear over something that never bothered them before. The key to this phase is to not force your puppy into situations, and just like before, remember to keep it fun. Instead, give a few treats, talk to him, and then YOU walk up to statue and touch it. YouTube is littered with videos of dogs being forced to interact or even being chased! This type of interaction can be seriously distressing for your puppy. Remember to keep it fun and positive, and he will move through the phase without any problems. A More Thorough Response.There are windows of time when certain types of behaviors e. We have done our part, but this training must continue long after they go to their new homes. Fear-based periods can include fearful responses to noises, dogs barking, music, really anything that could be interpreted as a threat. Although dogs have been domesticated for a long time, they still carry DNA from their wolf lineage and that includes protective puppy behaviors such as quickly scampering to cover when a threat is perceived. Between months these types of responses can be manifested by cowering behavior but can also include barking, growling, ears back and tail down, and in some cases just a bit of unsureness about the stimulus causing this reaction. Keep in mind that these behaviors manifest from a genetic basis that likely came with wild populations of dog ancestors e. Well, there are several key socialization periods as well and the first one occurs during the first 8 weeks, and this is when puppies begin to bond and trust their human family. Without a thorough socialization program, you will be battling that on top of puppy-fear based responses at a whole new level. Trust me fear-based training does make a difference when started in the first 8 weeks and research corroborates this and that early puppy training the first 8 weeks helps to temper these responses, but every puppy is different, and every home and environmental conditions are different as well. Just keep all of this in mind during the training period that these genetically programmed responses helped the puppies survive before becoming household pets that we have today. Unfortunately, they carry the genetic baggage from their past ancestors, and we just need to work around this. Understanding this is the first step toward puppy training… Ok so what to do!? Is there hope? Absolutely and the above information just sets the stage for how to train the puppies and help them thru these two fear-based periods. This can be extremely overwhelming and can manifest itself in many ways wanting to be with you all the time, depressed immune responses, etc. The main thing is to use the first fear-based period between weeks to absolutely bond to your new puppy and make sure they feel secure, protected, and not frightened. Many families have young kids and although they were raised with kids of all ages this first 8—week fear-based period can kick in and when chased by a young child, grabbed, pulled, or petted and handled can induce a fear-based response that may be hard to detect at first but can slowly creep in. Make sure that whoever is interacting with the puppy is doing so in a very friendly and non-threatening way. But remember kids can induce a fear-based response as can other dogs during this initial fear-based period. Allow the puppy to initiate contact with new people. Early traumatic experiences to a hostile child or dog can have a lifelong impact on the puppy and in many cases, this can cause permanent behavioral changes and why we do not advocate for dog parks or other situations where lots of dogs are together without proper supervision. You can also use a Bluetooth speaker and occasionally play novel noises during the day search in YouTube for Puppy Culture noises. During these very positive training episodes you can again play novel noises but very brief and have lots of treats ready to redirect their behavior. Such as they are fearful of going into the back seat. Your job is to create a positive experience by getting into the back seat. Maybe get some raw meat and put into a Ziplock bag and let your dog smell it. Then if they put one foot up onto the back seat treat them. Then two feet only gets a treat etc. Keep it fun. But you must be abundantly patient during this time. Dogs that routinely go thru basic obedience training school during this time seem to fly thru it with flying colors, but patience and praise is the key. The bottom line is that training and socialization is going to happen the rest of their lives. Certainly, it gets easier! Your investment now will have a lifelong impact on the well-being of your fur baby. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. Therefore, this article is dedicated to establishing some Bernedoodle training ground rules to make training as smooth for both you and your dog. Even though they are designer dogs, they are not meant to be trained for dog shows. If you like partying, you can have your Bernedoodle accompany you. If you like lying around, you can have your Bernedoodle accompany you. The breed is moderately active. Therefore, they can take on any activity you would want them to take on, as long as you give them enough rest. Since a Bernedoodle will always want to accompany you, it is best to train them according to your schedule and lifestyle. If you lead a super active lifestyle, we suggest you train your dog to be docile in the outdoor environment. However, if you like to stay at home, you can teach them basic household chores such as bringing a towel, etc. Try not to put too many irrelevant commands in their minds because their goofy minds might end up getting confused. Train Them Early Train them early to reap the fruits in the long run. Bernedoodles tend to get too comfortable in their surroundings and, as quick learners, adapt to habits in no time. Before getting a puppy, we suggest you plan a mini-vacation for the first week of your companionship. You can devote this first week to bond with your Bernedoodle puppy and training them diligently. Teach them a few obedience commands right when you get them. When a puppy is given too much time to themselves before training, they pick up naturally bad habits and are generally crate trained. Therefore, they get stuck learning only the basic commands for most of their life. However, if you train your puppy early, they will adopt a curious and adventurous mind. Therefore, they will learn how to do advanced tricks and abbey special commands in no time. After all, a Bernedoodle is a companion dog and will adapt to the way you live. Therefore, if you live a train dedicated to active training, they will live that way too. However, if you get lazy with training, they will slack off in picking up commands. Always Use Positive Reinforcements Dogs are sensitive to your behavior — so tread carefully. Something to be careful about — not only with Bernedoodles is how sensitive they can be towards your behavior. If you show them anger — they will either reciprocate it or feel stressed about your negative emotion. Dogs — like humans — cannot learn and perform while they are under stress. Therefore, it is best to make them feel welcome during their training session. Many dog trainers in the past used to punish dogs for not performing the desired command. However, doing that to a Bernedoodle can lead to anxiety and long-term bonding issues. The best way to train a Bernedoodle is to use positive reinforcements. Positive reinforcements are the act of awarding your dog for good behavior instead of punishing him for bad ones. Positive reinforcements allow the dog to create a stronger bond with you. Moreover, it allows the dog to be happy with his training sessions instead of dreading them. Laser-Sharp Focus Dogs get distracted easily, but they will not learn any complex commands unless they can focus. Much like humans, dogs need to be idle to focus on the task at hand. Whether you want to teach your dog new commands or want them to stay quiet for a while, they cannot do it until they are focused. The best way to teach your Bernedoodle to focus is to teach them the sit and stay command combination. Once your dog knows how to sit on command, move a little away from him and continue commanding him to sit. Add the stay command and slowly increase the duration of each stay session. When your dog knows how to stay until further notice, they will learn how to do nothing even when there might be some distractions around. Unless the dog learns not to do anything, he will never learn how to stay focused and learn new tricks. Take Them Outdoors — Learn from Experiences Outdoors is the perfect place for your dog to learn many visual cues and boost their sensory development. When you take your dog outdoors, two things happen — they interact with the world around them other than you, and they get physical exercise. When a dog gets to interact with a world other than you and your house, they learn several visual cues. Moreover, being outdoors with your dog is the perfect opportunity for you to gauge how he responds to other animals, strangers, and children. Most Bernedoodles are likely to be friendly and docile with other animals and strangers. Therefore, you will not have to make them undergo extensive training. However, some might get aggressive and will need specialized training to be friendly. Being outdoors also gives the dog the physical stimulation it needs to go about his day properly. If dogs have too much pent-up energy in them, they tend to develop destructive and aggressive behavior. Give Them Mental Games to Play Physical stimulation is important, but so is mental stimulation, which is why brain training for your dog is vital. How well your dog is mentally stimulated makes a huge difference in how well he can be trained. However, the same is true too. The more mentally stimulated the dog, the more intelligence he is likely to develop. The more intelligent the dog, the easier it will be to train him. Bernedoodles, in general, tend to be highly intelligent dogs — therefore, they like to be mentally stimulated and like to learn new things every other day. If a Bernedoodle is not adequately mentally stimulated, he will become sad and aggressive. The best way to mentally stimulate your Bernedoodle to keep his mind sharp enough for rigorous training is simple. You can get your dog to try a new command every three days. This will give them enough challenge to feel stimulated but not too much to overwhelm and distress them — which brings up the next ground rule. Training can be very difficult for your dog to wrap his head around. Therefore, while continuous training sessions are vital, it is necessary to keep each session short. Therefore, it is best to keep them happy about training for only minutes a stretch and let them imbibe the commands you teach them. An overworked dog will end up feeling too tired to obey the commands they have learned. Therefore, the best way to keep them from burning out is to teach consistently but gradually. If you are teaching the basic sit command to your dog, make sure you only make a few repetitions in one go. Too many repetitions will make your dog resist the training and resent the next session. Allow your dog at least two days to learn a command as simple as sit. Reinforce their training with the first few repetitions and slowly do away with the treats once they start to get the hang of the command — even if it takes a few days. Bernedoodles are companion dogs and love to spend all their time with their family. However, they are also very sensitive and need to learn how to be alone at an early age. If your dog is used to being with you at all times as a puppy, not having you around for even a short duration can be a cause of significant distress and sadness for them. When your puppy is only in his socializing stage, make sure you give him time to himself. Therefore, he will learn to feel comfortable in your absence. The best way to do so is to let the puppy move around in your house while you stay out of their sight for a while. Begin with 10 minutes of solitude, and you can gradually increase the time to hours at a stretch. This resonates with the ground rule of training your Bernedoodle in accordance with your lifestyle. If you need to go out to work for most of the day, train your puppy to learn your schedule. When you return home, make sure you spoil him with a lot of treats. This will let the dog understand that even if you leave them alone for a while, you will come back and shower him with love when you return. Use the Leash Wisely The leash is the first and last control you have over your dog. Therefore, it is important to use it accurately. Your dog will learn to associate the leash with training and walking, which should induce excitement in him. You must never use a leash to get strict or punish a dog. Otherwise, he will associate the leash with negativity. Dogs tend to associate places and objects with emotions. Therefore, once they have associated the leash with negativity, they will never be happy to be on a leash even while training and walking. Using a leash while training your dog is very important. This is especially true for Bernedoodles because even as intelligent dogs, they tend to be very distracted. If your dog is not on a leash while training, it will become difficult to keep him in one place. You can start walking your dog on a leash and teach him to stay at your heel. Once you are confident enough that your dog will not run off towards distractions and will listen to you if you call him, you can try walking him without the leash as well. However, the transformation from with to without a leash should be done very slowly and carefully. It is best to start the transformation within the confines of your home so that your dog will still be in reach if he runs off. However, their loyalty can cause problems when not trained properly. However, mixed with Poodle traits, the dog might not have any chill. If your dog is also aggressive in nature, he is likely to be too protective. This leads to them being suspicious of anyone who comes to your house. They might even have a tendency to bite. Therefore, you need to teach him the boundary between loyal and aggressively loyal. Loyalty is an inept trait in Bernedoodles. Therefore, you have to focus on training him not to be aggressive to anyone in your house. The answer is not to tie him up when someone visits — that will only make him more aggressive. You must make sure the dog is comfortable with people entering your house. To do so, you can walk your dog on a leash to the door when guests arrive. When your guest arrives, give the sit command and allow the guest to give him a treat — but only if the dog is sitting and not being aggressive. Once the guest is inside, you can allow your dog to roam freely and give him treats whenever he is not aggressive. This will teach him to trust having strangers in the house in your presence. Biting Training Dogs can nib — but teach them not to bite. As mentioned earlier, dogs are very receptive to your emotions. We will use that dog characteristic to our advantage. You can allow your dog to nib on your hand. This will let your dog know that they hurt you by putting pressure with their jaws on your hand. Eventually, with enough treats and repetitions, the dog will learn not to apply pressure to avoid causing pain. Make sure your dog is well-adept to not apply pressure while nibbling. Once that is done, you can ask your family or friends trusted by your dog to follow the same command sequence. This way, the dog will eventually learn not to bite either you or any other human around him. Every time your dog refrains from putting pressure while nibbling, award him with a treat. You will end up with a fierce dog who is not afraid to scare but will not cause harm unless he senses danger. Summing Up Bernedoodle is an interesting dog breed. With high intelligence, loyalty, and goofiness, they are extremely adorable. Their curiosity also makes them easy to train as long as you start training them as soon as you get them. With the right blend of positive reinforcements, accurate tool usage, scheduling, and patience, you can train your Bernedoodle to be the best companion dog there is. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. February 7, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? When it comes to having the best of both worlds, Bernedoodles are it! These mixed breed designers pups were bred to be the perfect companion dog and quickly rose up in the ranks of popular puppy breeds over the last two decades! How do you know if a Bernedoodle is a right fit for you and your family? A Brief Background on Bernedoodles! Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels claims to be the very first breeder that purposely cross-bred two purebreeds: Standard Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog. Since this breed is only approximately two decades old, the American Kennel Club still does not consider the Bernedoodle a purebred. Nevertheless, the rise in popularity has also led to many more breeders producing these pups. If you were interested in bringing a Bernedoodle home, while there are many reputable breeders that specialize in these pups, you can also find these pups in shelters or rescue groups that focus on Poodles and Bernese Mountain Dogs, to potentially find these mixed pups! What are Bernedoodle Breed Characteristics? When it comes to range, few breeds can beat the Bernedoodle! These pups come in a variety of sizes and coat colors. Bernedoodles come in a few different sizes: tiny, miniature, medium, and standard. They can range in weight from ten pounds in the tiny category all the way to ninety pounds in the standard category. Along with variety in sizes, their coats can be within a range from completely black, black and white, black and brown, or tri-colored with patches of either black, white, or brown. Probably the most common coat and markings people seek when looking for a Bernedoodle puppy is the tri-color variety that is in closer resemblance to the Bernese Mountain Dog. Depending on which side of their genetic makeup your pup takes after, some Bernedoodle pups coats can be curly, or wavy like the Standard Poodle and not shed as much making them a good candidate for parents who suffer from allergies. Other Bernedoodle pups can have straighter coats that have a tendency to shed more and are not hypoallergenic. What are Bernedoodles Personalities like? The Puppy Academy student, Hamilton! Goofy, smart, loyal to their families, and friendly, these pups have the best personality traits from both sides! Most Bernedoodles parents pick these pups because of their good demeanors and temperaments. Your puppy may lean toward the Standard Poodle side, depicting traits of high intelligence, hard-working, and loyal. Or your puppy can lean toward the Bernese Mountain Dog which is good-natured, confident, and affectionate. Some Bernese Mountain Dogs can be stubborn, in particular during their adolescent phase, and a bit aloof or standoffish toward strangers. With good basic obedience and early socialization, any Bernedoodle can make a great fit for a family and develop friendly demeanors toward new people. While these pups are considered to be working dogs and do require daily exercise, they are also content with hanging out with you at home. Moderate exercises such as one to two longer walks, with play sessions in between, a day is sufficient to burn off energy and keep your pup content! Tiny and Mini Bernedoodles are better equipment for urban environment living whereas Medium to Standard sized Bernedoodles would need more space to exercise and play. No matter the size of your Bernedoodle puppy, they are going to need adequate exercise, which is why they do really well with active families! Tiny and Mini Bernedoodles will require a bit less activity and can adapt to tighter living spaces that come with urban environments such as apartments or condos. As for Medium to Standard-sized Bernedoodles which are taller and wider and can grow upwards of ninety pounds, they may be bumping into more coffee tables and have trouble fitting in the same hallway as you in smaller dwellings! For all sizes, access to either a fenced-in yard or a nearby park you can take them to is ideal for this breed! How to Care for Your Bernedoodle Puppy! When it comes to caring for your new Bernedoodle puppy, start off by scheduling a first veterinarian visit within the first week of bringing your puppy home! Like many large breed working dogs, Bernedoodle may suffer from joint dysplasia. Bernese Mountain Dogs have been known to suffer blood disorders, some cancers, and progressive retinal atrophy. Generally, Bernedoodles are healthy and sturdy especially if they come from a reputable breeder. General care for your Bernedoodle puppy will include brushing their teeth to avoid tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Floppy ears means they may be susceptible to ear infections so regularly check and clean them to avoid these from happening. Because their coat types can vary, depending on your puppy, if they have a curly coat you may need to frequently brush them to avoid matting. We recommend that you take your puppy to a professional groomer every few months to get their fur trimmed. The Puppy Academy student, Cali! Create a Daily Puppy Training Schedule Bernedoodle puppies are smart and easily trained but they can have a stubborn streak as they get into their adolescence. Creating early structure at home can help mitigate this stubbornness by establishing daily routines your puppy can expect and also establish you as leader. Since Bernedoodles are made up of two intelligent hard-working breeds, basic obedience training with food positive reinforcement will benefit their behavioral growth! Socialize Your Bernedoodle Puppy with People, Children, and Other Pets Bernedoodles have friendly dispositions and make great family dogs, however, they can be standoffish to new people as they get older. Use Play to Help Train Them Tap into their playful nature and use your playtime sessions together to teach good manners! For example, use Fetch to teach your Bernedoodle how to come to you, Drop-it to give the toy back, then ask them to sit to teach polite manners as they learn to wait until you toss the toy again for them to get. Although Bernedoodles love to work, they sometimes need a bit more motivation! This can come with the aid of food rewards, and providing variation to their training routines to keep them engaged. Enrolling your puppy in training classes, or working with them by yourself at home using a program like our online puppy school will give you a plan to follow with basic training routines to teach your Bernedoodle good manners, as well as keep challenging them along the way so they never get bored, and advance their skillset! Did you recently bring home a Bernedoodle puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! This will help temper the Berner side of aloofness. If he takes after the Poodle side, the dog needs outlets for his boundless intelligence and energy. Manners training, retrieving and enrichment activities like puzzle toys can help satisfy his needs and prevent boredom. Dog breeders typically try to cross dogs that have the most appealing characteristics of each breed. Each Bernedoodle is unique and may take on more of the appearance or temperament of one parent breed than the other. Most Bernedoodles have a wavy coat with minimal shedding. Some have a curly coat similar to their Poodle ancestors. They can be pure black, black and white, black and brown or tri-colored black, brown and white. There are three sizes of Bernedoodles The standard Bernedoodle is a cross between a standard Poodle and a Berner. He ranges between 50 to 90 pounds and 23 to 29 inches at the shoulder. The mini Bernedoodle is a cross between the mini Poodle and the Berner. He ranges between 25 to 49 pounds and 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder. The tiny Bernedoodle is a cross between a toy Poodle and a mini Bernedoodle and is between 10 to 24 pounds and 12 to 17 inches at the shoulder. The mini and tiny Bernedoodles may have slightly higher energy levels than the standards do. Bernedoodles can make great family members for people who want an intelligent, easygoing companion. But be aware that your puppy may take after his high-driven, friendly Poodle ancestors or his aloof, headstrong Berner side in appearance and temperament. Start early and use plenty of positive reinforcements. They will be more happy and confident if they understand that you are in charge. Mini Bernedoodle pups are intelligent, and they will quickly learn what is expected of them. Here are a at home training tips for Mini Bernedoodles — there are also many good resources online. This will be home to your MiniBernedoodle pup when they sleep or when you are away. Make sure the crate is big enough that your pup can comfortably lie down, sit, and stand up. Place some comfortable rags or mattresses for them to sleep on and lure them inside with their favorite toys. Every time they pop into the crate willingly, give them a treat or play with them to show your appreciation. Many pups come to see their crate as a safe place to go when they want to rest or need a break. Potty Training One of the most challenging parts of the training is teaching your MiniBernedoodle pup to do their job at the right place. You will need to be patient and use many positive reinforcements while showing them the right place to do their business. Take the puppy out first thing in the morning and after every time that they eat, drink, or play. Make sure you reward them when they poo or pee at the proper place. Socializing You need to start socializing your mini doodle puppy as soon as possible. Although these puppies are quite even-tempered, they can also be anxious around strangers. To avoid unpleasantness later on, when guests come around, start training your pup to socialize when they are still babies. You have to train your pup to socialize with not just humans but with other dogs as well. Many people tend to think that dogs get along with dogs. Frequent walks and visits to doggy daycare and dog parks are great training tools. The more they see and interact with other pups and people the better their social skills will be. A well-behaved, friendly dog is a pleasure to be around since they are safe and loved by all. Barking Training Another problem you might face with your Bernedoodle pup is barking — this is their way of expressing themselved. The will most often do this for food, when they need to go outside, to alert you of strangers, or to get your attention. Try to understand the reason behind their barking so you can find a solution. For instance, if your pup mostly barks for food, have their feed ready at their place at fixed times every day. They will quickly learn that there is a time and will wait more patiently. Again, reward them the first few times they wait patiently for the food without barking. It will help them to understand what they are expected to do. Outdoor Walks - Leash Training Start out by introducing your puppy to their harness or leash. Let her wear in around the house for short periods of time while you are playing. Teach you puppy to come to you for treats around the house when you ask them to. Progress to holding the leash and asking them to follow you for the upcoming treats. Practice inside first, then outside as they become more comfortable. Here is a great leash training article from the American Kennel Club. Discourage Nipping Puppies playing with other pups will nip out of sheer playfulness. Your Mini Bernedoodle puppy might do the same when playing with you. But you have to train them that nipping is not allowed. The point to note here is that nipping is not the same as mouthing, a typical dog trait for showing affection. The difference lies in the force. So, you have to teach your Mini Bernedoodle pup the difference between mouthing and nipping. Eventually, your pup will understand the difference between nipping and mouthing. They will learn that nipping will not get them anywhere and learn to control the amount of force they use when play-biting. Verbal Cues Every dog understands a few human words. You, too, can train your Bernedoodle pup to follow verbal cues of things that you want them to do. For instance, when potty training your pup, you may use the word potty. Just make sure you use the same word every time. When your puppy poos after you say the word reward them, to show that this is what you are asking of them. You can use similar simple words for eating, going out, playtime, treats, and so on. If you are consistent they will learn to associate the word and will follow your verbal cues. Final Words Mini Bernedoodle puppies are a pleasure to be around. They are wonderfully friendly, active, and playful family-friendly dogs. Early and proper training will head off many difficulties. You will have a fantastic companion for life whose love is irreplaceable and completely unselfish. Pleasant Creek Mini Mini Bernedoodles puppies are socialized and positive behaviors are encouraged from the start! Laura: .February 13, Table of Contents Origin and History of the Bernedoodle Bernedoodles are a novel Doodle breed that has not been around for long at all. The first crosses were born in , and since then the breed has become highly popular in the US and abroad. The parents of the Bernedoodle however are old breeds with a long history. Poodles Poodles are waterdogs that originated in Germany. While we know them as delicate show dogs, they actually are very athletic canines that used to work tirelessly with their owners in duck hunting. The first drawings of Poodles can be found as far back as the 15th century. Although today Poodles are often portrayed as dainty dogs that need a lot of grooming and mostly go to dog shows and sleep on the couch, they are highly intelligent dogs that are devoted to their owners. Their characteristic coat was originally bred to be suitable for long days in and out of the water. Nowadays their coat quality makes them a popular choice for cross-breeds as they can add a low or no-shedding quality to other dog breeds and make their fur more manageable. They were originally bred to be all-around farm dogs. They would guard a property and livestock and also function as draft animals, pulling carts for their owners. Bernese Mountain Dogs are a highly popular breed for many families in Switzerland, Austria and Germany due to their calm temperament. They are very friendly and generally do not require a lot of training. If you go to any restaurant or beer garden in the summer, you are likely to find at least one Bernese Mountain Dog snoozing underneath a table. These dogs are generally great with kids and other dogs. They have a stable temperament and tend to not be scared or skittish. However, a Bernese Mountain Dog will protect his home and scare off intruders with his bark if needed! Most dogs grow very tall with inches at the shoulder and weight between 70 and 90 lbs. Temperament It cannot be overstated that a Bernedoodle is not a couch potato dog. Many Doodle owners find themselves with a puppy that is much more energetic than they hoped for. If you want a low-key, laid-back dog, it is better to decide on a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. As all Doodles, Bernedoodles are extremely outgoing and social dogs. They love to meet and greet everyone and become friends with every person and dog they meet. They often stay very puppy-like for several years before settling down. Bernedoodles are heavy chewers. If you do not provide them with plenty of chew items they can and will start to chew your furniture, shoes, walls … Many Bernedoodles have a lifelong chewing desire and you need to be ready to fulfill it. Due to their energy level and tendency to be exuberant and over-the-top, they will require training. If you do not invest time into teaching your puppy to walk well on a leash, to not jump up on people and to come when called, your adult Bernedoodle will be out of control. Bernedoodles usually love children and greatly enjoy being around them. They thrive in the company of their people and are ideal for families and couples that spend plenty of time with their dog. Since they are so social these dogs are not at all suitable to be outside-only dogs or dogs that mostly live in kennels. If you do not want to share your house with your dog, do not decide on a Bernedoodle. Do Bernedoodles Shed? One of the main reasons many owners decide to purchase a Poodle cross is their tendency to shed less. It is very important to note that there is no guarantee that your Bernedoodle will not shed. While Poodle mixes do shed a lot less than many other dogs, as with every cross it is impossible to reliably predict certain qualities. Even though your Bernedoodle will probably not shed a lot or maybe even not at all , he will still require grooming. If Doodles are not groomed regularly, their coat mats and quickly become unmanageable. You should have a plan in place for grooming your future puppy. If you enjoy brushing your dog and bathing him, you can do it yourself. You can also find a local groomer who can help with the bathing and trims. While yes, your Bernedoodle will likely not shed a lot he will need regular grooming. Training Bernedoodles generally are good dogs that grow up to be well-behaved, social and friendly family members. Based on his breed-specific characteristics, the Bernedoodle will require training focused on showing good manners even when excited. Deciding on a Bernedoodle Are you wondering whether a Bernedoodle would be the right addition to your home? While looking at adorable puppy pictures will make you want to decide in a heartbeat, it is important to consider several key aspects of owning this mix breed. The characteristics of the two breeds make Bernedoodles very intelligent, outgoing dogs that often require quite a bit of exercise and training. Many owners are surprised at how energetic and social their Bernedoodles are and struggle with them especially during the puppy stage. The Poodle adds a lot of athleticism and drive to the mix which should not be underestimated. A Bernedoodle is not the right dog for you if: You want a couch potato dog You don't want to groom your dog You are looking for a dog that does not need training and exercise You want a dog that can stay by himself for many hours You don't want an outgoing, people-loving dog A Bernedoodle is the right dog for you if: You like to be active with your dog You are ready to invest time and energy into raising your puppy the right way You enjoy training your dog and are ready to train him a little bit every day You know that regular grooming will be required either by you or a groomer You want an outgoing, social-butterfly type of dog Finding your Puppy Breeder If you are ready to say yes to a Bernedoodle, the next step is to find the right breeder. It is really important to pay attention to the way your breeder is raising the puppies. A lot of imprinting happens during the first 8 weeks after birth. The more committed your breeder is to making this an enriching and positive period of their life, the better the puppies are set up to become friendly and outgoing family dogs. You also should inquire if your breeder is testing the parents for breed-specific conditions. Both Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles are for example prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. It is largely genetic so making sure that the parents have healthy joints will be crucial. Do not let the distance to the breeder guide your decision process too much. Responsible breeders might require you to neuter or spay your Bernedoodle puppy at a certain age. This is not a red flag — rather, they strive to prevent irresponsible cross breeding of their offspring. How much is a Bernedoodle Puppy? Like for all designer breeds, prices for Bernedoodle puppies can vary wildly. This is a huge investment, but with an average lifespan of years you will have a wonderful companion by your side for a long time. Many owners are repeat Bernedoodle buyers — they fall in love with the breed and cannot imagine ever owning a different breed. The outgoing, social, happy-go-lucky nature of the Bernedoodle is captivating and makes for amazing companions — whether on an adventure or just relaxing at home. Why are Bernedoodles so expensive? A lot of thought, effort and time goes into breeding healthy puppies with great temperaments. A responsible Bernedoodle breeder will always make sure to check the parents for any genetic conditions that could be passed on as well as to extensively evaluate their temperament. Raising puppies properly also requires a lot of time and resources. They need high-quality food, a lot of interaction and socialization, toys, vet visits etc. Even if a Bernedoodle puppy might seem expensive to you — the breeders most likely did not get rich from breeding dogs. It is a passion for them! Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day. View All Articles in Training When to Start Training Your Pup While training may not be the first thing you think about when collecting your cute new bundle of floof from the breeder, it should certainly be up there on your priority list. Chances are, if you picked a good facility, your puppy will already have a leg up on the training ladder. Either way, the very best way to quickly make your new pet feel at home is to establish the boundaries of their behavior in a firm but fair manner. Take them outside to pee frequently and praise them when they do what you want them to do, but never punish any accidents. Every dog learns at their own speed, and training takes patience. Yet, the rules need to be in place from day one. If you let your pooch sleep on your bed one day but banish them from the bedroom the next, they are going to end up very confused. Routines that are established in these first few weeks will stick with your Berne. After all, these super-intelligent dogs learn fast. Compared with more excited, energetic Doodles, they can be a breeze to handle if you pick the right teaching method. Here are four of the best as recommended by canine experts: Positive Reinforcement Early ideas on dog training focused heavily on the owner asserting dominance over their pet through positive punishment shouting, hitting, and hurting. We have moved far away from these today. Such treatment often backfires, creating an anxious, aggressive dog that is liable to lash out when provoked. Now, most trainers make use of positive reinforcement methods. Instead of reacting to unwanted behaviors, they focus on rewarding the wanted ones. They do this through the use of attention, praise, toys, and treats. The idea is that if the dog associates a particular behavior with a reward, they are more likely to repeat that behavior. A potential issue with this technique is that sometimes bad behavior is its own reward. Say your dog likes to steal food from the counter or escape from the garden. In these instances, a negative punishment removing a favorite toy, treat, or simply your attention is recommended to let them know this is not acceptable. Clicker Training Based on the same principles as positive reinforcement, clicker training is the method most often utilized by doggy trainers. Secondly, it can be used at the exact moment your pup displays the wanted action. In this way, the positive behavior is very clearly marked. Of course, with this method, you first have to train your pal to associate the clicker with a future reward. Do this by encouraging them to obey a command they are already familiar with, using the clicker, and promptly feeding them a treat. With time a link will form between the two. Eventually, the clicker may even become the reward itself — the signal of a job well done for your dog. This desire to mimic as a way of pleasing the leader is a natural behavior among pack animals in the wild. They are given the freedom to engage in dog-like behaviors within reason. Training often occurs off the leash and focuses on promoting actions associated with hunting, defending, and retrieving. Socialization plays a crucial role in mirror training. Owners are encouraged to include their pooch in all aspects of their lives so as to build a strong bond with them. Getting out and about with other dogs is also vital. Pack-animal mentality means that positive behaviors are also acquired this way. Relationship-Based Training As the name suggests, relationship-based training is also highly focused on the bond between pet and owner. The idea is that any training built on a solid and trusting relationship is likely to be far more effective. You are looking to learn everything you can about your pup and their specific needs. The aim is to be in tune with their emotions, be able to accurately interpret their body language, and understand what motivates them. Positive reinforcement methods are then used to shape behavior. At the same time, the environment is closely controlled to set the dog up for success. So, for instance, you try not to leave temptation in their way if it can be avoided. This training takes a little longer than other kinds but can offer more success in the long run. Training Items You Absolutely Need for Your Doodle Depending on the method you opt for, you will need a few tools to guarantee success. For instance, with each one, you will require reward items such as treats and toys. Here are some toys that will work for Bernies. Aside from that, you will want a good quality collar or harness and leash for outside training. Opt for a harness if your puppy likes to pull. These are generally better for bigger, more powerful dogs such as Bernedoodles, anyway, as they give you a little more control. Many owners also choose to crate train their pup. This has a number of advantages, including giving your dog a place that is all theirs, a place where they can feel safe and secure. Check out our dedicated articles on leash training and crate training for more specific advice on each one. However, it also increases the likelihood of them snatching food from tables and counters if not closely supervised. When they obey, offer pets and praise, and they will soon get the hang of it. Avoid mixed messages by never feeding your pup from the table. Jumping While Bernedoodles tend to be cautious with strangers, the opposite is true with those they love. They may demonstrate their enthusiasm by jumping up to say hello — not ideal if your Bernie is on the larger side. It can be challenging for owners who appreciate all the loving to discourage such behavior, but not everyone enjoys being sent flying. While the natural response might be to push your pup down, they will likely view this as part of the game. Instead, the best thing to do is withdraw your attention. Turn away from your dog without a sound and cross your arms over your chest. If they keep jumping up, then simply turn around and leave the room. If you are having problems with a noisy hound, try to identify what might lie underneath the behavior rather than simply trying to control it. Barking can signal an array of issues — everything from boredom to anxiety. So, pay attention to when it occurs. Bernedoodles, being highly sociable dogs, are prone to separation anxiety, so if your pup is disturbing the neighbors when you are away from the house, this is likely the problem. Find out what you can do about separation anxiety here. Early and thorough socialization is the best preventative measure for this. Pulling on the Leash A common issue among most young pups, pulling on the leash can be a serious problem with Bernedoodles, though — especially when they are on the larger side. This behavior usually occurs simply because your pup is excited to be outside, and that enthusiasm translates to them wanting to get to the dog park as quickly as they can. Mastering walking on the leash mostly just takes practice. You need to be firm and not let them get away with doing it at any time. If your Berne starts to get ahead of you, simply stop, make them sit if you can, and begin to walk again only when they are a bit calmer. See here for more leash training tips and tricks. Digging Just like barking, digging tends to be a symptom of an underlying problem like boredom. The thing with Doodles is that incredible intelligence makes them less likely to be satisfied with merely hanging out in the yard all day. They need to be kept both physically and mentally stimulated. If they are not… bring on the destructive behaviors! Digging is a firm doggy favorite. The trick is to divert their attention to something else. If they are getting enough walks and plenty of affection, try throwing a few toys into the mix. Puzzle toys have been designed specifically to keep clever canines entertained for longer. Finally, try giving your dog a designated space in the garden to dig far away from the fence and your favorite plants and flowers. Biting and Mouthing While common in young pups, especially when teething, aggressive biting is not a Bernedoodle trait. Herding dogs such as Bernes might nip to get you to go where they want to go a behavior they can easily be trained out of. Still, if your pup is getting a little vicious for no reason, you could have a problem. If it is just puppy teething — not fun in any way when they are having at you with those needle-sharp teeth — consider investing in a high-quality teething toy such as one of these. They could be feeling particularly anxious about something — a new person or other kinds of changes in the household. Alternatively, they might be sick and in pain. If you are confident that they are getting enough nutrition for their weight and life stage, chances are your hound is just looking for something fun to chew on and taking it to the extreme. Again, chew toys are the best answer. They will keep your pet occupied and help them to fulfill their natural instinct for mouthing. This is what keeps their teeth clean and their jaws healthy, after all. The issue should resolve itself in no time at all. Especially because most breeders begin this process long before you pick your new puppy up. Just keep things consistent, and you will get there fairly quickly and painlessly. A few things you can do are: take your pup out to the place you want them to go on a regular basis. Designate a specific command and offer lots of love, hugs, and praise when they do what you ask of them. Never punish any accidents — this could actually set your dog back. Some owners recommend crate training for puppies who are having a slightly more difficult time getting the hang of it all. When To Get Professional Help If your pup starts or continues to display behavior issues such as aggression, food aggression, excessive barking, destructive chewing, mounting, or separation anxiety, it is likely that he will need special attention to address them. The best way to deal with Doodle behavior issues is to hire a trainer, or a behaviorist to come to your home for a one-on-one consult. Not only will you learn the skills you need to be successful, but your puppy will learn incredible manners and behaviors as well! See Also: Click the image Amy helps you set up your home, get your family all on the same page and teaches you exactly what to do the second your puppy arrives for optimal training success. You can also schedule LIVE! Office Hours for one-on-one help with Amy and participate in weekly online puppy classes right in your living room! Need help with training? We recommend this on top of group classes. By the way, the skills they teach works for any dog at any age. Bernedoodles, with their incredible intelligence and people-pleasing manner, are relatively easy to train compared to other dogs. Keep things light, fun, and interesting, and you should be able to teach your pal to do just about anything within reason. How do you train a Bernedoodle puppy? There are various training methods. The one you subscribe to will be the one that works best for you and your pup. How do you discipline a Bernedoodle? Discipline is a tricky business in the world of canines. Experts agree that shouting and hitting simply do not work in the long run. Bernedoodles are awesome dogs, and you will never regret adding one to your household. However, they do take a fair bit of looking after.